An Iraqi militant group has vowed to escalate attacks on U.S. forces in the region, citing frustration with the lack of progress in discussion regarding the withdrawal of American troops. The announcement follows a strike on an American military base in northeastern Syria on Sunday, April 21, where at least five rockets were fired from Iraq’s Zummar town.
The attacks mark the first assault on U.S. forces since early February, when Iranian-backed groups paused their attacks. The attacks coincide with the return of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani from a visit to the United States, during which he met with President Joe Biden at the White House.
Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah, a prominent militia group, claims that Iraqi armed factions will resume attacks due to stagnation in discussions over the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Syria.
The strike on the Kharab al-Jir base in Syria was reportedly launched from Iraqi territory, according to Rami Abdel, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The rising tensions follow a period of relative calm after a series of rocket attacks and drone strikes earlier this year, which forced the U.S. to respond with airstrikes.
On a Saturday, April 20, a large explosion at a military base in Iraq killed a member of the Iraqi Security Force, which includes Iran-backed groups. The force commander said it was an attack, however, the Army said it was investigating and there were no warplanes in the sky at the time.
The U.S. military has denied involvement.
The United States has around 2,500 soldiers in Iraq and nearly 900 in Syria as part of an international coalition to combat the Islamic State group.
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