At least five rockets were fired from the town of Zummar in Iraq towards a US military base in northeastern Syria on Sunday (April 21), as reported by two Iraqi security sources and a US official.
This recent attack on US forces is the first since early February, when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq ceased their attacks against American troops.
The incident occurred following the return of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani from a visit to the United States, where he met with President Joe Biden at the White House.
A Telegram group linked to Kataib Hezbollah has stated, according to Reuters, that armed factions in Iraq will continue their attacks after a nearly three-month pause, due to limited progress in negotiations to end the US-led military coalition in the country.
Nonetheless, another Telegram group associated with Kataib Hezbollah, Sabreen News, has not released any official statement on behalf of the Iran-backed faction.
A US official informed Reuters that more than five rockets from a “failed rocket attack” landed near troops at a coalition base in Rumalyn, Syria, without causing any injuries.
It remains unclear whether the attacks were unsuccessful or had alternative objectives.
Following the incident, an aircraft from the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria reportedly targeted the launcher. A small truck equipped with a rocket launcher was identified in Zummar, a town bordering Syria, according to two security sources and a senior Iraqi army officer.
The destroyed truck has been seized for further investigation, with initial findings suggesting it was eliminated by an airstrike. The officer mentioned ongoing coordination with coalition forces in Iraq to share information regarding the attack.
Iraqi Security Media Cell has announced that Iraqi forces have commenced an extensive search and inspection mission near the Syrian border to capture the perpetrators, with a pledge to uphold justice.
These measures were taken in response to a major explosion at an Iraqi military base on Saturday, which led to the fatality of a member of an Iraqi security force comprising Iran-backed groups.
Although the commander of the force labeled it as an assault, the army has stated that it is currently under investigation, emphasizing the lack of warplanes in the area during the incident.
