Two drone attacks in Iraq target global coalition: official
Print/DownloadTwo drone attacks in Iraq target global coalition: official
by AFP Staff Writers
Arbil, Iraq (AFP) Nov 9, 2023
Two drone attacks targeted a military airport where troops of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition are based, authorities in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan said on Thursday.
There were no injuries, the local authorities said.
Since October 17, US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted by drone or rocket attacks at least 40 times, injuring dozens of US personnel, according to an updated tally given by a US official.
Such attacks come after the Israel-Hamas war which began on October 7.
Overnight Wednesday-Thursday “two drones attacked” the coalition’s base at Harir airport in Arbil province, said a statement from the counter-terrorism services in Iraqi Kurdistan, in northern Iraq.
The attacks came around midnight, it said, without specifying whether the drones had been shot down. Photos accompanying the statement showed metallic debris on the ground.
Most of the attacks — including the latest ones — have been claimed by a group known as “Islamic Resistance in Iraq”, according to Telegram channels affiliated with Iraqi factions close to Tehran.
Around 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq and another 900 in Syria, as part of the international anti-jihadist coalition that was established in 2014.
In Iraq, the coalition says its role is limited to advising and supporting local counterparts.
In a visit to Baghdad on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the attacks, which Washington has linked back to Iran, were “totally unacceptable”.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who was appointed by pro-Iran parties, has condemned the attacks and promised investigations to uncover the perpetrators.
On Wednesday US warplanes carried out a strike on an Iran-linked weapons storage facility in eastern Syria, in response to attacks against American personnel, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
Related Links
US Reaper shot down off Yemeni coast
Washington DC (UPI) Nov 9, 2021
An unmanned US drone has been shot down near Yemen by Houthi military forces, a defense official said.
The official said the MQ-9 Reaper drone was over international waters in international air space when it was downed. US Central Command is investigating the incident. Houthi militants took responsibility for the attack, officials said.
This incident comes two weeks after Navy warship, the USS Carney, downed a series of missiles and drones launched by Houthi backed forces, and, based on … read more
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2023 – Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled “by Staff Writers” include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report’s information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.
