The US Air Force has denied claims by a militia group in Iraq that one of its bases in Kuwait had come under attack from a drone, purportedly launched by the group.
An Iraqi group calling itself Al Waretheen, or “The Inheritors," announced on Saturday that drones had been launched at the Ali Al Salem Air Base on August 12.
The US Air Force's 386th Air Expeditionary Wing said this was simply a “propaganda attack,” and that no such incident had occurred.
“The misinformation falsely stated an Iranian militia group used (drones) to carry out an attack on base,” an Air Force statement to The Associated Press said. “No such attack occurred.” Al Waretheen say they are based in Iraq, despite the US statement saying they were Iranian.
Analysts say that alongside conducting real attacks on US forces in Iraq, Iran-backed militia groups sometimes announce attacks that in reality did not happen, in an attempt to sow disinformation.
Small militia groups in Iraq, including Ashab Al Kahf, have made similar claims in the past, releasing statements about drone attacks or improvised roadside bomb attacks on US convoys, yet no evidence of such attacks later emerges, or footage of the purported attacks is found to have been re-used from older incidents.
According to US think tank the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, groups such as Ashab Al Kahf are front organisations for established militias in the Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella organisation of armed groups ostensibly under Iraqi-government control, but with significant Iranian backing.
These groups include Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al Haq, both listed as terror organisations by the US.
But while the fake attacks have little consequence, both groups have launched thousands of lethal attacks since their formation during the US occupation of Iraq and their front organisations have been blamed by the US of at least one drone attack targeting Saudi Arabia last year.
Analysts say the front organisations are intended to deflect blame and reduce the likelihood of US retaliation for real attacks.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')
Morecambe 0
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
The specs: 2018 Ford F-150
Price, base / as tested: Dh173,250 / Dh178,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 395hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 12.4L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
- Or try to keep the word count down
- Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
- That's about it
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LEADERBOARD
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Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Match info
Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THREE
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