Iran-backed Attacks Against U.S. Forces Resume

After a nearly three-month pause in Iran-linked attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East, Iran-backed militia attacked the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq, which hosts U.S. troops, on July 16. Similar to two attacks that these groups launched in April, which also interrupted another lengthy pause in attacks, the most recent attacks are likely an attempt by the Iran-backed militia to signal its disapproval of recent meetings between senior U.S. and Iraqi officials and dissatisfaction with the U.S. military presence in Iraq. By launching the attacks, the Iranian proxies demonstrated their continued capability to target U.S. troops, and the limited deterrent effect of past U.S. strikes against the groups, as they have done on at least 176 occasions since the Israel-Hamas War began.

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