Al Asad Airbase

August 22, 2025 | Bridget Toomey |

US forces begin withdrawal from Ain al Asad airbase as US presence in Iraq transitions

Arab media reported on August 18 that a US military convoy departed Ain al Asad airbase, a military facility hosting US forces in western Iraq, on its way to Syria. An Iraqi security source speaking...

July 23, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

New head of anti-Islamic State mission in Iraq and Syria takes command

Brigadier General Kevin Lambert took over as the new commander of the anti-Islamic State coalition of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) in a ceremony in Iraq on...

June 27, 2025 | Ben Cohen |

Tehran excels at exporting terrorism

In the words of a piece of antisemitic graffiti daubed on a synagogue in Melbourne, Australia: “Iran Is Da Bomb.”

June 22, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh |

How might Iran retaliate against the US?

Few Iranian officials have responded publicly to the US strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites on June 21—an understandable silence, given that many leaders have either been eliminated by...

June 16, 2025 | Cameron McMillan, Ryan Brobst

U.S. Forces in the Middle East: Under Attack and Defending Israel

U.S. forces are under attack in the Middle East. U.S. officials stated on June 14 that three drones had been launched at Al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, where U.S. troops are stationed. The drones were almost certainly fired by Iranian-backed proxies and were intercepted before hitting their targets. The attack comes amid renewed threats from Tehran, which has vowed to continue strikes against Israel and said it would attack U.S. bases as the U.S. military helps defend the Jewish state from Iran’s long-range missile and drone barrages.

June 15, 2025 | Bill Roggio |

Iran-backed Shiite militias attack US forces based in Iraq

Iran-backed Shiite militias launched three drones at a US base in western Iraq. The attack is the first of its kind reported since Israel launched a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear program, key leaders,...

May 24, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh |

Why Dismantling Iran’s Nuclear Program Doesn’t Mean War

When confronted with a firm United States, Iran has remained largely restrained to avoid provoking direct military confrontation.

March 29, 2025 | |

Iran Unveils Latest Massive Underground Missile Facility

Another ‘Missile City’ Revealed:  Iran released video footage on March 25 of what it claims is a large underground missile facility, marking the fourth of its kind revealed by the Islamic Republic in 2025.

November 6, 2024 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Israel Gears Up for Action: Iran’s Missile Moves from Iraq Push U.S. and Israeli Patience to the Brink

Iran’s proxy terrorist organizations in Iraq have claimed more than 100 strikes against Israel in the past year alone, including one drone attack on October 4 that resulted in the deaths of two IDF soldiers...

August 29, 2024 | Orde Kittrie, Bradley Bowman, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Deterring Iran’s Dash to the Bomb

August 14, 2024 | |

Pentagon Blames Iran-Backed Militias for U.S. Troop Injuries in Syria

Latest Developments Iran-backed militias were responsible for an attack that injured eight U.S. servicemembers in Syria on August 9, the Pentagon said on August 13. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat...

August 12, 2024 | |

U.S. Increases Force Posture in the Middle East Amid Iranian Threats

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to expedite its transit to the U.S. Central Command region on August 11 as the United States...

August 7, 2024 | |

Multiple U.S. Personnel Wounded in Rocket Attack on Coalition Base in Iraq

Five U.S. service members and two U.S. contractors were injured in a rocket attack by Iran-backed terrorists in Iraq on August 5, according to U.S. defense officials who briefed...

July 18, 2024 | Janatan Sayeh, Ahmad Sharawi

Iran-backed militias target US base in Iraq

Two drones targeted the Ain al-Asad Airbase in Iraq on July 16, a military outpost that hosts American and coalition forces. The drone strikes mark the second attack on American forces in Iraq...

June 18, 2024 | |

State Department Sanctions Iran-Backed Iraqi Militia

The State Department designated an Iran-backed Iraqi militia — Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA) — on June 17 as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group. State also...

April 24, 2024 | |

Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Resume Attacks on U.S. Forces

U.S. forces at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq shot down approximately two drones on April 22, according to U.S. officials. This was the second attack in 24 hours against U.S. troops, coming...

April 11, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran has ten ways to attack Israel; which one will it choose?

Iran's vowed punishment of Israel might manifest either through proxies or direct means, including ballistic missiles and drones.

February 2, 2024 | |

Pentagon: Deadly Attack on U.S. Soldiers Facilitated by Iran

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on February 1 that the Pentagon believes that Iranian-sponsored and -funded proxy groups conducted the recent attack in Jordan that took the lives...

January 28, 2024 | |

Iran-Backed Drone Attack Kills Three U.S. Servicemembers in Jordan

An Iran-backed drone attack killed three U.S. servicemembers and injured 25 others in Jordan on January 28. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a...

January 24, 2024 | |

U.S. Strikes Iranian-Backed Group in Response to Attacks in Iraq

U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah on January 24 in response to the Iranian-backed group’s targeting of American troops in Iraq. Kataib Hezbollah conducted...