2023-12-04T15:29:29+00:00
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/ A US Department of Defense (Pentagon) official confirmed on Monday that US forces carried out, on Sunday, an air strike near Kirkuk, targeting five militants who were preparing to attack US forces in Iraq.
The American Al Hurra channel quoted the official as saying that the strike was carried out in self-defense and to prevent the targeted group from launching an attack on American forces.
He added, “Between October 17 and December 4, American and coalition forces were subjected to at least 76 attacks using drones, missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles,” explaining that “among them were 36 attacks in Iraq and 40 in Syria.”
A statement issued by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization representing Iraqi armed factions with close ties to Iran, said that five of its members were killed, and it pledged revenge against American forces.
Iraqi armed groups claimed responsibility for attacks on American forces since last October 17, against the backdrop of Washington’s support for Israel in its bombing of Gaza.
The attacks stopped during a truce between Israel and Hamas, which is on the US terrorist lists, but resumed after the end of that truce.
In November, the United States launched two series of attacks on pro-Iranian armed groups that participated in attacks on its forces.
The Iraqi government condemned these attacks, describing them as escalatory and violating Iraq’s sovereignty.
900 American soldiers are stationed in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq on a mission that the United States says aims to provide advice to local forces and assist them in trying to prevent ISIS from reappearing.
In 2014, the organization seized vast areas in Syria and Iraq before being defeated.