Pentagon says drone attacks on US troops in Iraq thwarted, with ‘minor injuries’

Three drones attacked two separate bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq on Wednesday, resulting in minor injuries to Coalition forces at one location, U.S. defense officials said.   

In the first attack, which came early Wednesday, American troops intercepted two drones in western Iraq.  

“An attempted attack against U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq was disrupted in the early morning of Oct. 18,” Col. Sean Heidgerken said in a statement to The Hill. “Two one-way drones were shot down in the attack.” 

U.S. Central Command (Centcom), which oversees American forces in the Middle East, later said one drone was destroyed and one was damaged, “resulting in minor injuries.” 

Officials did not say who was suspected of being behind the attack, which was aimed at the al-Asad air base, Reuters reported.  

Hours later, another drone attack targeted the al-Harir air base in Erbil in northern Iraq, a location that houses American forces. An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq claimed responsibility for the incident, which was also thwarted, according to multiple reports. 

Centcom confirmed U.S. forces “engaged and destroyed a drone, resulting in no injuries or damage.” 

The attacks are the first such attempts on U.S. troops in Iraq in more than a year and come as Washington fears the Hamas-Israel war may broaden into a wider conflict, or be used by Iran-backed groups as a chance to destabilize the region.  

Iranian-aligned groups in Iraq and Yemen announced last week they would target U.S. interests with missiles and drones should Washington intervene in support of Israel. 

About 2,500 U.S. troops are currently based in Iraq with another 900 in Syria. Both groups advise and assist local forces in keeping the Islamic State from resurging in both countries. 

U.S. officials have also voiced concerns that the Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, will open a second front in the Hamas-Israel conflict. 

Tensions in the Middle East have soared since Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,300 people. In response, Israel has struck Gaza with a barrage of bombs and artillery, killing more than 3,000 Palestinian civilians so far, according to Hamas health officials. Israeli forces have also amassed for a planned ground invasion of Gaza. 

The situation has prompted the Biden administration to send fighter jets and munitions to the region as well as two carrier strike groups to the nearby eastern Mediterranean. In addition, the Pentagon sent a rapid response special forces team to the Middle East and put another 2,000 U.S. troops on “prepare to deploy” orders. The American forces would support Israel in an advisory and medical role, defense officials said this week. 

President Biden was also in Israel on Wednesday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials to reaffirm U.S. support while also trying to avoid a wider war in the region. 

Making matters more complicated was an explosion at a Gaza hospital that reportedly killed hundreds of Palestinians, an event that happened hours ahead of the drone attacks in Iraq. 

Palestinian officials say the hospital was hit by an Israeli air strike, however the U.S. says initial intelligence supports Israel’s denial of any role in the explosion and that it instead points to “terrorist groups” within Gaza.

Updated: 5:01 p.m.