Discussing rocket attacks against bases hosting U.S. forces in Iraq, a senior U.S. diplomat asserted that “the Iraqi government is at a decision point. If it doesn’t take steps to hold accountable those responsible for the attacks on coalition forces, which are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government, the U.S. will be forced to continue to protect our forces proactively”. He added that “we’ve been, I think, enormously disappointed with the performance of the Government of Iraq in fulfilling its obligations to protect coalition forces… that remains a point of contention”. The official further explained that the repositioning of U.S. forces in the country “was planned” and “makes sense. It’s in part because the Iraqi forces that we have been training are better ready to stand on their own feet and do the work... [and] in the era of corona, we’re looking for maybe fewer bases with fewer people on them”.