Washington 0
5 January 2022

The U.S.-led counter-ISIS coalition reported that five rockets fell near the Ain al-Assad Air Base, followed by “an unidentified drone” that was downed on approaching the facility. The same day, the Iraqi military confirmed that a rocket had targeted a base with U.S. personnel at Baghdad International Airport. A coalition official emphasised that it “reserves the right to defend itself and partner forces against any threat”, adding: “our Coalition continues to see threats against our forces in Iraq and Syria by militia groups that are backed by Iran. These attacks are a dangerous distraction from our Coalition’s shared mission to advise, assist, and enable partner forces to maintain the enduring defeat of Daesh [ie, ISIS]”.

Subscribe to Crisis Group’s Email Updates

Receive the best source of conflict analysis right in your inbox.