SULAIMANI (ESTA) — EU ambassador to Iraq Martin Huth said on Thursday recent rocket and drone attacks in Iraq aimed at increased political instability as the country holds early elections in October.
“Continuing attacks over the past weeks targeting bases, airports, consulates and embassies are again threatening and challenging the Iraqi State, while aiming at renewed confrontation and increased political instability during the run-up to Iraq’s forthcoming elections,” Huth said in a tweet.
Attacks on bases hosting U.S. and Coalition troops in Iraq have increased since the United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups last week.
U.S. diplomats and troops in Iraq and Syria were targeted in three rocket and drone attacks in the past 24 hours, including at least 14 rockets hitting Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base hosting U.S. forces.
The rocket attack on the Iraqi base wounded two American service members, according to U.S. officials.
One suffered a concussion and the other had minor cuts, a U.S. official told Reuters.
Iraqi army officials said the pace of recent attacks against bases hosting U.S. forces with rockets and explosive-laden drones was unprecedented.
While there were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks – part of a wave targeting U.S. troops or areas where they are based in Iraq and Syria – analysts believed they were part of a campaign by Iranian-backed militias.
Iraqi militia groups aligned with Iran vowed to retaliate after U.S. strikes on the Iraqi-Syrian border killed four of their members last month.
The United States told the U.N. Security Council last week that it targeted Iranian-backed militia in Syria and Iraq with air strikes to deter them and Tehran from conducting or supporting further attacks on U.S. personnel or facilities.
Iran denied supporting attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and condemned U.S. air strikes on Iranian-backed groups.
