Drones Target US, Coalition Forces in Iraq

Coalition forces on the ground reported minor injuries in one of the attacks, according to U.S. military officials.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 05:49 PM ET

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U.S. Army Sgt. Evan Wight provided security during a key leader engagement at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in March 2023. One of the drone attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces this week occurred at the western Iraq air base, according to a report. [Credit: U.S. Army]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq are on heightened alert after being targeted by three drone attacks in western (Al Asad air base) and northern parts of the country.
The attacks resulted in minor injuries to Coalition forces in western Iraq, where one drone was destroyed and another damaged.
U.S. forces successfully engaged and destroyed two of the drones, marking the first attacks on U.S. positions in Iraq in at least nine months.

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U.S. and Coalition forces are on heightened alert in Iraq after troops were targeted in three drone attacks in two areas of the country. One incident left some troops on the ground with minor injuries, according to U.S. Central Command.

“In the last 24 hours, the U.S. military defended against three drones near U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq,” CENTCOM said in a statement Wednesday. “In western Iraq, U.S. forces engaged two drones, destroying one and damaging the second, resulting in minor injuries to Coalition forces. Separately in northern Iraq, U.S. forces engaged and destroyed a drone, resulting in no injuries or damage.”

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The incidents in western Iraq occurred at Al Asad air base, Politico reported. Prior to those, there had not been any attacks on U.S. positions in Iraq in at least nine months.