Reports emerged on Sunday confirming that at least five rockets were launched from the Iraqi city of Jumma towards a US military base in northeastern Syria. According to two Iraqi security sources and a US official, the attack targeted a coalition base in Rumalin, Syria. However, it remains unclear whether the rockets successfully hit the base or were intercepted before reaching their target. The news was reported by the British news agency Reuters.
There have been conflicting reports regarding the origin of the attack, with uncertainties surrounding whether the rockets were fired from Iraq or aimed directly at the base. Nonetheless, it has been confirmed that no US personnel were injured in the incident.
Iraqi security sources revealed that a small truck equipped with a rocket launcher was stationed in the Syrian border town of Jummar, from where the rockets are believed to have been launched. The wrecked truck has since been seized for further investigation, with preliminary findings suggesting it was destroyed in an airstrike.
This attack marks the first instance of hostility against US forces since Iran-backed groups ceased attacks on US troops in Iraq back in February. The timing of the assault, occurring just a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani's visit to the United States and his meeting with President Joe Biden, has raised concerns about potential escalations in the region.
The decision to resume attacks by armed groups comes after a lull of nearly three months, during which talks aimed at ending the US-led military coalition in Iraq showed signs of progress. However, with no tangible results from the negotiations, a group associated with Kataib Hezbollah announced via a Telegram group post that they have resumed hostilities.
The incident follows an explosion at a military base in Iraq on Saturday morning, resulting in the death of a member of the Iraqi security forces supported by Iran-backed armed factions. The circumstances surrounding this explosion remain under investigation.
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