SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The U.S. military is bracing for a possible attack on American personnel and interests in Iraq, according to U.S. defense officials.
In recent days there has been increased concern and vigilance about what Iranian-backed forces might do in the lead up to the anniversary of a Jan. 3 U.S. drone strike in Iraq that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, according to a U.S. official.
“The United States continues to deploy combat-ready capabilities into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to deter any potential advisory, and make clear that we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at Americans or our interests,” Chief of U.S. Central Command Kenneth McKenzie said, the Washington Post reported.
“We do not seek conflict, but no one should underestimate our ability to defend our forces or to act decisively in response to any attack,” McKenzie added.
His speech came as two B-52 bombers carried out a round-trip, 30-hour mission from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to the Middle East which ended on Wednesday.
The Air Force conducted similar missions twice before in the last 45 hours, according to the Washington Post.
Politico cited a senior U.S. official as saying that the flight by the B-52 bombers was in response to signals that Iran may be planning attacks against U.S. allied targets in Iraq or elsewhere in the region in the coming days.
A senior U.S. defense official said leaders of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have met with Quds Force leaders and that a “fair amount of advanced conventional weaponry” has flowed over the border from Iran into Iraq.
“I would tell you that the threat streams are very real,” the senior official told the Post.
He characterized the situation as the “most concerning that I have seen” since Soleimani’s killing, and said there is concern of a complex attack, the Post reported.
Due to rocket attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, the United States has reduced the number of staff at the embassy and warned of consequences if any Americans are killed.
A volley of rockets exploded near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on December 20. The U.S. senior official said vehicles and buildings on the American site were damages.
Following the rocket attack, U.S. President Donald Trump warned on December 23 that he would hold Iran responsible if an American was killed.
Trump said the rockets were from Iran and “we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq.”
The Iraqi military said that an “outlaw group” fired the rockets at Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings, U.S. Embassy and other foreign missions.
Washington blames Iran-backed militias for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.
