An Iraqi base also used by international forces has been the target of a drone strike on Tuesday. The attack was thwarted and there were no casualties, a representative of the international coalition reported. It was the second such attack in less than 48 hours.
Monday marked the two-year anniversary of the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant in a US drone strike in Iraq. “Two drones carrying explosives were intercepted early Tuesday morning and destroyed at the Ain al-Assad air base,” said the person in charge, who wishes to remain anonymous. The base is located in western Iraq.
An attack by two drones on Baghdad International Airport was thwarted on Monday. In recent months, there have been several missile or drone attacks against the US presence in Iraq. Those attacks are never claimed, but Washington usually points to the pro-Iranian factions in Iraq.
Revenge or terrorist act?
The attacks are seen as revenge for the death of influential Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone on January 3, 2020 near Baghdad airport. The US called Soleimani a terrorist and found the attack legitimate. Then-President Donald Trump had ordered the attack.
For Tehran, it was an act of terror. As for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Trump must be tried or Tehran will retaliate.
“We will maintain a minimal presence on Iraqi bases – the coalition no longer has its own bases in Iraq,” the coalition said. On December 9, Iraq “announced the end of the international coalition’s combat mission”. However, at three bases, there are still some 2,500 American soldiers and a thousand soldiers from other countries in Iraq to provide training and advice.
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