US Calls on Iraq to Protect American Forces After Failed Attacks by Iran-Aligned Militias

The US military has called on the Iraqi government to take immediate action to protect American forces from attacks by Iranian militia groups.

Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder stated that two "failed attacks" by Iranian groups were carried out against US forces in Iraq and Syria on April 24, 2024.

According to Ryder, the first attack targeted a base in western Iraq, while the second involved rockets fired from northern Iraq at a base in Syria that houses forces from the US-led coalition against the Islamic State. These attacks were part of a wave of over 165 attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria that began in October 2023, shortly after the start of Israel's war on Gaza.

Ryder stressed that these were the first such attacks since February 4 and cautioned that the US will not hesitate to defend its forces if the attacks persist. "These attacks put coalition and Iraqi personnel at risk," he said. "We have called on the government of Iraq to take steps to ensure the safety of our forces against attacks from these groups."

The US has about 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in eastern Syria on an advisory and assistance mission. The US has previously blamed Iran for financing and directing militias in Iraq and Syria that have attacked US forces.

The attacks caused serious injuries but no deaths among US forces. However, a drone attack in Jordan in late January 2024 killed three US soldiers, prompting Washington to carry out strikes on dozens of targets in Iraq and Syria. The attacks paused in early February but resumed in late April with the two latest incidents.

The majority of the attacks were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group of Iran-backed militias angered by US support for Israel's war on Gaza. The attacks come amid rising regional tensions and efforts by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to turn a new page in US-Iran relations during his recent visit to the United States.

Why this matters: The renewed attacks by Iran-aligned militias on US forces in Iraq and Syria threaten to escalate tensions in the region and undermine efforts to improve US-Iran relations. The situation highlights the complex challenges facing the US military presence in the Middle East amid ongoing conflicts and shifting alliances.

Ryder reiterated that the US will defend its forces if the attacks continue, as it has done in the past. "The United States will not hesitate to defend itself and will take all necessary measures to protect our forces," he stated. The US military's call for Iraq to safeguard American troops comes as the region grapples with the fallout from Israel's war on Gaza and the

Key Takeaways

• US military calls on Iraq to protect US troops from Iran-backed militia attacks.
• Two failed attacks by Iranian groups targeted US forces in Iraq and Syria on April 24.
• Over 165 attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria since October 2023 after the Israel-Gaza war.
• The US has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, and blames Iran for financing militias attacking them.
• Renewed attacks threaten to escalate tensions, and undermine US-Iran relations improvement efforts.