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Washington Says Taking Attack on Troops at Iraq Base 'Extremely Seriously'

US soldiers line up on a plane leaving Al-Asad Air Base west of the capital, Baghdad - November 2011 (AFP)
US soldiers line up on a plane leaving Al-Asad Air Base west of the capital, Baghdad - November 2011 (AFP)
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Washington Says Taking Attack on Troops at Iraq Base 'Extremely Seriously'

US soldiers line up on a plane leaving Al-Asad Air Base west of the capital, Baghdad - November 2011 (AFP)
US soldiers line up on a plane leaving Al-Asad Air Base west of the capital, Baghdad - November 2011 (AFP)

The US is taking "extremely seriously" a weekend attack by Iran-backed militants on a base that hosts US forces in Iraq.

The US ambassador to Baghdad, Alina Romanowski, met on Sunday with officials from the Coordination Framework and former prime ministers Haider al-Abadi and Nouri al-Maliki.

Abadi, who also chairs the al-Nasr Coalition, received the US ambassador in Baghdad and reviewed the latest developments in Iraq and the region.

On his Facebook page, Abadi explained that the meeting also discussed the importance of ongoing efforts and supporting the government's efforts in a way that maintains the rights of the people and the country.

Abadi pointed out that the meeting discussed enhancing cooperation between the two countries, the shape of the future relationship, the situation in Gaza, and the necessity of working to end the suffering of the Palestinian people.

For his part, the media office of the head of the State of Law coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, stated that the meeting with the US diplomat reviewed the future of bilateral relations and the escalating tensions in both countries and the region.

During the meeting, Maliki reiterated the importance of boosting relations and developing ties to serve the interests of the two people.

Maliki called for quick action to reduce tension and end the attacks that may lead to the expansion of the war.

According to the statement, Romanovsky renewed her country's support for Iraq's stability and continued dialogues between the two countries to enhance partnership in various critical and vital sectors.

The US embassy did not comment on this meeting. Romanowski regularly meets with Iraqi leaders and politicians.

- Ballistic attack

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US personnel suffered minor injuries and a member of Iraq's security forces was wounded in an attack on Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base on Saturday.

The US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement that the base was hit by several ballistic missiles and rockets launched by Iranian-backed factions inside Iraq.

The statement did not confirm the extent of any US injuries but said personnel were being evaluated for traumatic brain injury.

According to Reuters, the US military's assessment was more severe than initial accounts from security sources in Iraq, who, along with an Iraqi government source, had only reported rocket fire against the base.

US Central Command said that most of the missiles were intercepted, though others hit the base, adding that "Damage assessments are ongoing "and "at least one Iraqi service member was injured."

Later, White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer said: "It was a very serious attack, using a capability of ballistic missiles that posed a genuine threat."

During an interview with ABC's "This Week," Finer asserted that the US will respond to establish deterrence in these situations and hold these groups that continue to attack accountable.

"You can be assured that we are taking this extremely seriously," Finer said.

Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October, the US military has been attacked at least 58 times in Iraq and 83 times in Syria by Iran's allies.

The US has 900 soldiers in Syria and 2,500 soldiers in Iraq on a mission to advise and assist local forces trying to prevent ISIS reemergence, which in 2014 took control of large areas in both countries before its defeat.

After Saturday's attack, Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades military spokesman Abu Ali al-Askari announced in a statement that the "Islamic resistance factions will continue to target the enemies until they achieve the announced goals," stressing the necessity of escalating the attack.

On Saturday, the Special Representative of the UN Sec-Gen for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, warned against drawing Iraq into the conflict in the Middle East

- Battlefield

Iraq is deeply concerned about becoming an arena for the US and Israel to fight with Iran.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani announced the start of procedures to remove US forces from the country after a drone strike in Baghdad.

The Department of Defense said that the raid killed a militia leader it blames for recent attacks on US personnel.


The Pentagon added that it had not been officially notified of any plans to end the presence of US forces in the country and says that its troops are deployed in Iraq at the invitation of the government in Baghdad.

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Opposition Forces Breach Syria’s Second-Largest City Aleppo, Fighters and a War Monitor Say

Smoke rises in the distance as anti-regime fighters hold a position on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo on November 29, 2024. (AFP)
Smoke rises in the distance as anti-regime fighters hold a position on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo on November 29, 2024. (AFP)
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Opposition Forces Breach Syria’s Second-Largest City Aleppo, Fighters and a War Monitor Say

Smoke rises in the distance as anti-regime fighters hold a position on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo on November 29, 2024. (AFP)
Smoke rises in the distance as anti-regime fighters hold a position on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo on November 29, 2024. (AFP)

Opposition fighters breached Syria’s second-largest city Aleppo after blowing up two car bombs on Friday and were clashing with government forces on the city's western edge, according to a Syria war monitor and combatants.

It was the first time the city has been attacked by opposition forces since 2016, when they were ousted from Aleppo's eastern neighborhoods following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups.

Witnesses in Aleppo city said residents have been fleeing neighborhoods on the western edge of the city because of missiles and exchanges of fire. The government did not comment on the fighters breaching city limits.

Syria's Armed Forces said in a statement Friday it has been clashing with fighters in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, destroying several of their drones and heavy weapons. It vowed to repel the attack and accused the fighters of spreading false information about their advances.

Thousands of fighters have been advancing toward Aleppo city since a shock offensive they launched on Wednesday, seizing several towns and villages along the way.

The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, who had backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battle at home.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the fighters blew up two car bombs at the city’s western edge on Friday.

An opposition faction commander issued a recorded message posted on social media calling on the city's residents to cooperate with the advancing forces.

Türkiye state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the opposition forces entered Aleppo city center Friday. It said the fighters “broke through the defense lines of the regime forces along the Hamdaniyya, New Aleppo, and Zahra axis on the outskirts of the city.”

It added the fighters now control approximately 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

Syria’s state media reported earlier Friday that projectiles from fighters landed in the student accommodations at Aleppo's university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Public transportation to the city had also been diverted from the main highway linking Aleppo to the capital Damascus to avoid clashes, the report said.

Fighters also advanced on the town of Saraqab, in northwestern Idlib province, a strategic area that would secure supply lines to Aleppo.

This week's advances were one of the largest by opposition factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, and comes after weeks of low simmering violence. It is most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by opposition fighters.

Syria’s Armed Forces said the fighters are violating a 2019 agreement that de-escalated fighting in the area, which has been the last remaining opposition stronghold for years.

The war monitor Observatory said dozens of fighters from both sides have been killed in the battles that started Wednesday. The opposition fighters have seized control of more than 50 villages in their advance, which seem to have caught the government forces unprepared.

Hezbollah, the lead group in an Iran-linked alliance that has backed Syria's government, has been locked in a war with Israel that escalated since September. A ceasefire was announced Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days.

“Hezbollah was the main force in the government’s control of the city,” said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory.

The factions reported earlier Friday that fighters had wrested control of the Scientific Research Center neighborhood, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the western outskirts of Aleppo city. Government-linked media denied the fighters have seized it.

The Associated Press was not able to immediately verify the claims.

Fighters posted videos online showing they were using drones in their advance, a new weapon they had not had previously in the earlier stages of their confrontation with government forces. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground.

The Anadolu Agency, reporting from Idlib, said the fighters attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo city with drones early Friday, destroying a helicopter. It said the opposition groups seized heavy weapons, depots and military vehicles belonging to the government forces during their advance.

Aid groups said the fighting has displaced thousands of families, and forced some services to be suspended. The opposition fighters said their offensive will allow the return of thousands of displaced people who were forced to flee government bombardment in recent weeks.

The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and opposition fighters since the 2011 protests against Bashar Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war.

Russia and Iran and its allied groups had helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of all of Aleppo that year, after a grueling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks.

Türkiye has been a main backer of an array of opposition forces and its troops have established military presence in parts of northwestern Syria. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the United States has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting ISIS militants.