Multiple Attacks on American Forces in Iraq and Syria; Number of Attacks Reaches 73

On Thursday, American forces were attacked four times in Iraq and Syria. These attacks were carried out using missiles and armed drones, but there were no casualties or damage to infrastructure reported. According to a U.S. military official, American and international forces were targeted at two sites in northeastern Syria with several missiles and one attack drone. In Iraq, several drones were launched at the Ain al-Asad airbase west of Baghdad and one drone at a base where American forces are stationed near Erbil airport in northern Iraq. The 'Islamic Resistance in Iraq' group, which analysts say is allied with Iran, has claimed responsibility for these attacks. According to the U.S. military official, as of Thursday, there have been 36 attacks on American forces in Iraq and 37 attacks in Syria. These attacks occurred one day after a U.S. strike on the armed group Kata'ib Hezbollah in southern Baghdad, which, according to Kata'ib Hezbollah, resulted in the deaths of eight members of the group. The Iraqi government condemned the U.S. attack, deeming it a violation of its sovereignty. U.S. officials stated that the attack was conducted in response to the escalation of attacks by Iran-aligned groups. In the U.S. attack on Iranian proxy militants in Iraq, nine were killed. Reuters reported that eight Iranian-affiliated militants in Iraq were killed as a result of the U.S. airstrike. The U.S. response to the missile attacks from Iranian proxy groups in Iraq involved precise strikes on their positions. An attack on a vehicle belonging to an Iranian-supported militia in Iraq resulted in one death.