A Pentagon spokesperson affirmed that “the U.S. is moving defensive systems into Iraq to protect Iraqi, coalition and U.S. service members from a variety of air threats seen at Iraqi bases that host coalition troops… The establishment of ground-based air defences in Iraq continues, but for operational security reasons, we are not providing status updates as those systems come online”. “The Iraqi government is well aware of our collective need for air defence protection of service members within Iraq, and we continue to coordinate closely with our Iraqi counterparts”, the statement added.