Iraqi sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday that US forces cut “information exchange channels” with Iraqi army leaders at the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq, in light of recent armed attacks.
The sources explained that the US move came after a limited number of faction attacks reached precise targets inside the base, adding that the US decision was a “precautionary measure” in anticipation of more strikes, as the Americans believe that their coordinates inside the base were being leaked by insiders to “the party carrying out the attacks.”
Commenting on this information, a senior Iraqi officer denied that the Iraqi forces’ connection in Ain al-Assad has been cut off with American advisors and trainers, saying: “The training program is continuing at its normal pace.”
It was not immediately possible to obtain a comment from the international coalition forces in Iraq.
The last attack on the base occurred on Tuesday, when two drones targeted it with two missiles, which did not result in any injuries or damage, according to Reuters.
On Monday, four Katyusha rockets were fired from a desert area about 25 kilometers north of the base. While two Iraqi army officials said that the rockets may have fallen far from the barracks, Iraqi sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that one or two attacks caused a more accurate hit than others.
Since the start of the war on Gaza, the Ain al-Assad base has been subjected to a series of strikes with drones and missiles, while US concern mounted after a number of these attacks reached unprecedented “accuracy.”
