Mourners attend the funeral of Kataib Hezbollah members who were killed in US air strikes, in Najaf, Iraq. AP
Mourners attend the funeral of Kataib Hezbollah members who were killed in US air strikes, in Najaf, Iraq. AP
Mourners attend the funeral of Kataib Hezbollah members who were killed in US air strikes, in Najaf, Iraq. AP
Mourners attend the funeral of Kataib Hezbollah members who were killed in US air strikes, in Najaf, Iraq. AP

Attacks by Iran proxies on US troops put Iraqi government in difficult position


Sinan Mahmoud
  • English
  • Arabic

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The latest escalation between US forces and Iran-backed Shiite militias over the past three days in Iraq has put the government in a difficult position, security officials said on Thursday.

The officials, who spoke to The National on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, warned that the confrontation could escalate further, putting Iraqi security forces at risk.

US forces in Iraq and Syria have faced a surge in rocket and drone attacks by militia groups due to Washington's support of Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip, after Hamas operatives killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, in cross-border raids in Israel on October 7.

"These attacks are really embarrassing us," an Interior Ministry Intelligence officer said.

"At the same time, the government can't do anything to stop them as the key to these groups is not in Baghdad, but Tehran."

These attacks have hit Ain Al Asad in western Iraq, a military base near Baghdad's international airport, and Harir airport in the northern city of Erbil, as well as bases inside Syria.

As of Tuesday, US troops have been attacked 68 times since October 17, with 33 in Iraq and the rest in Syria, a defence official confirmed to The National on Wednesday.

At least 62 US personnel have suffered minor injuries or traumatic brain injuries in the attacks, according to the Pentagon.

As a retaliation, the US carried out three limited air strikes in Syria, and on Monday and Tuesday it expanded these attacks to Iraq in an alarming escalation, killing at least nine militiamen.

Iraqi militia groups have vowed to increase their attacks.

Late on Monday, US forces were attacked at Ain Al Asad and a US military AC-130 plane responded a few hours later, killing one Iran-backed militant linked to Kataib Hezbollah.

The following day, the US struck the operations centre of the same group in Jurf Al Sakhar, south of Baghdad, killing eight militants and wounding five.

"Since October 17, the government has been trying to convince these groups that their acts are harming Iraq and its relations with other countries, mainly the US, to no avail," another government official said.

A four-day temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was expected to come into force on Thursday to allow Israeli hostages to be swapped with Palestinian prisoners, and to deliver more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The deal has been beset by delays, however.

"There are indications that Iran informed all factions in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to stop operations when the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement begins," the official said.

"We hope we can start from that point to stop these useless attacks."

The Iraqi government on Wednesday condemned the US strikes as a “dangerous escalation and a breach of Iraqi sovereignty”.

It said the strikes were a "clear overstepping” of the task of the US-led International Coalition, which is supporting Iraqi forces with training and advice.

But it also contained a hidden message to the militias, warning that the government “is the only party that is constitutionally responsible for drawing and implementing policies and maintaining security and stability".

"Any armed actions outside the military institution are deemed illegal and a threat to the national interests,” it warned.

A few hours after holding a funeral for the killed militants in Baghdad, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of Tehran-allied militias, said they fired three explosive-laden drones at Harir base in separate attacks.

On Wednesday night, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met the US ambassador to Baghdad, Alina L. Romanowski, emphasising the government's stance.

After the meeting, Ms Romanowski said they discussed "the latest regional developments and Iraqi government's commitment to protecting US presence in Iraq".

"We share common points of view on preventing the expansion of conflict and on delivering humanitarian aid to civilians to Gaza," she added.

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Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

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UNSC Elections 2022-23

Seats open:

  • Two for Africa Group
  • One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
  • One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
  • One for Eastern Europe Group

Countries so far running: 

  • UAE
  • Albania 
  • Brazil 
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan

January 24 – First T20, Lahore

January 25 – Second T20, Lahore

January 27 – Third T20, Lahore

February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi

April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi

April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi

Keane on …

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9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m

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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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Director: Raed Zeno

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Directed by: Anthony Mandler

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3/5

 

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Retail gloom

Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.

It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.

The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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While you're here
Scores

Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Profile

Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

Updated: November 23, 2023, 1:38 PM`