(RepublicanView.org) – The US Embassy in Baghdad has come under fire in the latest in a string of attacks against US troops in the region. The embassy was hit by mortar fire on December 8, but apart from minor damage to the building, little harm was caused, and there were no casualties or injuries. A Pentagon spokesperson said that at least seven 60 mm mortar rounds landed in the embassy’s compound, while others, aimed at the embassy, fell short and landed in a nearby river.
A US official asked the Iraqi government “to do all in its power to protect diplomatic and Coalition partner personnel and facilities,” before stating that America retains the right to defend itself against attack at any location around the world.
Rising tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war have accelerated, and in November, Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said American positions in Iraq and Syria were attacked on 38 occasions between October 17 and November 6. Forty-six US service personnel were injured in those incidents, which the Biden administration blamed on Iranian proxies.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, funded by Iran, have launched several drone and missile attacks at US ships in the Red Sea in recent weeks.
On December 4, US military officials said the Houthis had also attacked Israeli commercial vessels in the region, which a spokesperson for the Iran-backed group confirmed. It said the attacks were an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
During a White House briefing on December 4, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US would take “appropriate action” against the Houthi groups. He added that Houthis pull the trigger on guns supplied by Iran.
Copyright 2023, RepublicanView.org
