Iranian-Backed Terrorists Resume Attacks on U.S. Troops in Iraq

Latest Developments

Two drones launched by an unspecified Iranian proxy in Iraq targeted U.S. and coalition forces at the Ain Al-Asad base in Iraq on July 16, the Pentagon confirmed. Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said during a press briefing on July 18 that an Iranian proxy group launched two one-way attack drones at the base. One of the drones was shot down, while the other impacted the base, causing minimal damage and no injuries.

While no specific Iraqi militia group has yet claimed the attacks, Iraqi-Kurdish news outlet Shafaq News Agency quoted Ali al-Fatlawi, leader of the Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (“God’s Loyal Supporters”) terrorist group, warning of more attacks on U.S. forces from the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” — an umbrella organization of Iranian proxy groups. The group wants U.S. forces to leave Iraq, but that would increase the chances of an ISIS resurgence in Iraq and empower Iran.  

Expert Analysis

“Iran’s proxy militias in Iraq have been eager to reinitiate attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The latest, which took place after a several months-long hiatus, may indicate that the drumbeat of attacks will resume. The militias, which ironically are part of the Iraqi security establishment, are pressuring the government to force the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq and have threatened to strike U.S. bases if their demands are not met. These actions are not carried out without the express consent of the militias’ Iranian masters.” — Bill Roggio, FDD Senior Fellow and Editor of FDD’s Long War Journal

“Following a resumption in attacks on U.S. forces by Iranian proxies, Congress should press the administration to ensure our forward-deployed forces have the military means and political permission to respond with overwhelming force to defend themselves and make the Iranian proxies regret their attack and reconsider future attacks. The evidence is clear that Iran views American weakness as a green light for additional aggression and the concerted application of American power as a reason to think twice.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power

“U.S. forces continue to play a vital role in ensuring the lasting defeat of the ISIS caliphate, which is essential to U.S. national security.  Unfortunately, this important defeat-ISIS mission has largely become one of American servicemembers dodging Iranian rockets and drones with limited ability and permission to respond, forcing our servicemembers to bet their lives on often insufficient defensive measures and luck. As we tragically learned in Jordan with the deaths of three American Soldiers, relying on defensive systems alone is insufficient, and — at some point — luck runs out.” — Cameron McMillan, Research Analyst at FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power

Iranian Proxy Attacks on U.S. Troops

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq escalated drone and missile attacks against U.S. and coalition troops in the region in mid-October in solidarity with Hamas’s war against Israel. Tuesday’s attack was the third attack on U.S. forces since early February, when the militias largely paused their attacks on U.S. forces following the U.S. response to the killings of three American servicemembers in Jordan.

U.S. forces at Al-Asad shot down two drones on April 22, less than 24 hours after Iran-aligned militants targeted U.S. forces in Rumalyn, Syria, with multiple rockets. On January 28, Iranian proxies attacked U.S. troops at a base in Jordan, killing three American servicemembers. Since October 17, Iraqi militias have attacked U.S. troops more than 165 times with only 11 responses from the United States.

Groups Attempting to Expel U.S. Forces

On June 6, Shafaq cited an unnamed source saying that factions from the Islamic Resistance were warning that they would resume attacks on U.S. forces if Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani did not negotiate a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops by mid-July. U.S. and coalition troops remain in the region after being asked by the Iraqi government in 2014 to assist in fighting ISIS — which at the time had seized control of large swathes of the country. According to Reuters, approximately 2,500 U.S. military personnel are deployed in Iraq and another 900 in Syria throughout multiple coalition bases to help ensure that the ISIS caliphate remains defeated.

Related Analysis

“Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Resume Attacks on U.S. Forces,” FDD Flash Brief

“The consequences of US weakness in Iraq and Syria,” by Bradley Bowman and Cameron McMillan

“American Forces Under Attack By Iran and its Proxies,” by Cameron McMillan and Bradley Bowman

“Pentagon: Deadly Attack on U.S. Soldiers Facilitated by Iran,” FDD Flash Brief