Anti-US armed groups in Iraq shrug aside warnings to cease attacks over Israel's war on Gaza

Iraqi sources say several Iran-backed Iraqi militias have shunned warnings by the Iraqi prime minister to cease attacks on military bases hosting US and international coalition military advisers, raising a possibility of US armed retaliation and destabilisation of the country.

This week, armed factions aligned with Iran have claimed responsibility for several Katyusha rockets and drone attacks on at least three US bases in Iraq and another US base in Syria, announcing the end of a year-long fragile ceasefire due to Washington's support for Israel's war on Gaza.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israel's attack on Gaza has killed more than 6,000 people so far. 

Militias supported by Iran that call themselves "the Islamic Resistance in Iraq" have launched several attacks targeting Ain al-Asad in western Iraq, Victoria military base near Baghdad's international airport, Harir in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil and on a base housing US forces in Syria. 

"The attacks that target Iraqi bases that house advisers from the international coalition in Iraq are unacceptable. They are here based on the invitation of the government to support, train, and advise our security forces," Yahya Rasool, a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister and commander-in-chief of the armed forces Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said in a statement on Monday. "Breaches to security and safety cannot be tolerated."

According to #AlMayadeen's correspondent in Iraq, the explosions in the vicinity of #AinAlAssad are reportedly due to missile strikes that targeted the #US forces in #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/zjah0m7Xod

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 24, 2023

The spokesperson also said that Iraq's prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has "directed all the security services to carry out their duties, enforce the law, pursue the elements responsible for these attacks, and maintain the security and stability."

Following the announcement by the Iraqi government, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III made a phone call with Sudani. 

"The Secretary thanked the Prime Minister for today's announcement reaffirming his government's full commitment to protect US forces who are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government," Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. "The Secretary conveyed the importance of protecting US and Global Coalition personnel and advisors, convoys, and diplomatic facilities from aggression and attacks."

Last week, US military bases in Iraq and Syria were targeted by drone attacks, resulting in injuries to at least 24 US military personnel, as reported by U.S. Central Command to NBC News on Tuesday. Although the Pentagon had acknowledged the attacks, the extent of the injuries remained undisclosed, with NBC News noting that they were minor.

The US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken also spoke with Sudani over the phone on 23 October. 

"The Secretary welcomed the Government of Iraq’s condemnation of the recent attacks and threats to U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq. The Secretary urged the Prime Minister to pursue those behind the attacks and fulfil Iraq's commitment to maintaining the security at these installations," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. 

Despite Sudani's reassurances, a parliament member from the ruling alliance, speaking anonymously to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Arabic-language sister publication to The New Arab, reported that Sudani's meetings with leaders of Iraqi militias on Sunday evening and Monday did not yield a definite resolution to cease attacks on US interests in Iraq.

"Leaders of political forces within the ruling Coordination Framework, such as Nouri al-Maliki, Hadi al-Amiri, as well as leaders of other armed factions like Qais al-Khazali, were in favour of de-escalation," according to the Iraqi MP. "However, there were other faction leaders who refused to even engage with Al-Sudani, like Harakat al-Nujaba leader Akram al-Kaabi, and some leaders in the Hezbollah Brigades, who are believed to be behind the recent attacks on Ain al-Asad and Hareer bases."

The MP also revealed that Sudani received a warning from US officials that US forces in the region would respond if these attacks caused any losses among their forces or the coalition forces in Iraq.

Simultaneously, a military official in Baghdad informed the website that security forces have reinforced their presence around facilities and bases hosting coalition forces and US operations. The source also noted that the Iran-backed armed factions were employing varying aliases for recent attacks, with Washington implicating them in strikes near the Syrian border. 

Observers of the Iraqi situation warn that the US might also use economic sanctions against the Iraqi government if it fails to stop the militia attacks, including further limitation by the US Federal Reserve to access revenues of selling oil the US dollars. 

On the other hand, Kazim al-Fartusi, the spokesperson of Iran-backed Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada, on Monday night told local Iraqi television that the recent statement by Iraq's top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a legitimator for possible military confrontation and jihad against Israel and the US forces. 

The 90-year-old al-Sistani is the top Shia cleric in Iraq and a powerhouse in the Shia world. 

On Wednesday, 12 October, Sistani called on the world to stand up to Israel's "terrible brutality" on the Gaza Strip, adding that only ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine will lead to everlasting peace.

"The entire world is called upon to stand against this terrible brutality and prevent the occupying forces from carrying out their plans to inflict further harm on the oppressed Palestinian people," he said.