★ IRAQ
Twelve Strikes on US Base, Thirteenth Attack Turns Severe Under Team Biden
August 1-6, 2024
Twelve Attacks on US Bases in Iraq and Syria, Thirteenth Turns Severe
Iraqi militias targeted the Ain al-Assad U.S. base with ten missiles on August 5, causing visible damage and injuries among U.S. personnel. Iraqi forces intercepted eight Katyusha rockets, while two hit the base, marking the most significant damage out of twelve attacks since June 6, according to Arabic media. The strikes emanated from the Haditha district, a recurrent launch point for previous assaults on the base. At least five U.S. personnel sustained injuries in a rocket attack on the Ain al-Assad airbase in western Iraq. Two Katyusha rockets struck the base, resulting in one American being seriously wounded. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant condemned the rocket attack by Iranian proxies on Al-Asad Airbase, calling it a ‘dangerous escalation.’ Statements from the White House in response to this latest attack emphasized that measures to defend U.S. personnel and respond to any assaults will be executed at a time and place of their choosing, without reference to the twelve previous attacks. Meanwhile and ironically, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit to expel U.S. forces, citing lack of jurisdiction. The lawsuit sought to invalidate the approval for U.S. forces’ presence and demanded compensation for damages since 2009. Despite the dismissal, discussions about transitioning the international coalition’s mission, led by the U.S. against ISIS, continue.
U.S. Airstrike Kills Houthi Drone Expert Near Baghdad
The U.S. airstrike on July 30 in Musayib, Iraq, killed Hussein Abdullah Mastoor al-Shabal, a Houthi drone specialist, highlighting deep ties among Iranian-backed militant groups in the Middle East. The strike, targeting militants preparing an attack on U.S. forces, was the first American operation in Iraq in months since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October. Four Kataib Hezbollah members were also killed, though the group claimed they were conducting drone experiments and protecting religious pilgrims. Yemen’s Houthi group confirmed the death of al-Shabal, a drone expert from Maran in Saada province, in the U.S. strike on a drone facility operated by the Iran-aligned Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah, underscoring the Houthis’ strong ties with Iranian-backed groups.
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★ syria
Russia And Iran Bolster Forces In Syria, Preparing For War
August 1-6, 2024
Russian Base Near US Forces in Ayn al-Arab Signals Strategic Shift
Russian forces have established a new military base in Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), northeastern Aleppo, close to the Syrian-Turkish border. This base is strategically located 36 minutes driving distance, 18.39 miles southwest of an American base, highlighting the close proximity and potential for direct contact between Russian and U.S. military forces in the region.
The establishment of this base is part of a broader effort by Russia to monitor hostilities and consolidate its influence in the resource-rich area east of the Euphrates River, under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The base’s location in Ayn al-Arab, an area with significant agricultural and oil resources, enhances Russia’s strategic presence.
Notably, this new Russian base occupies the same location as former American bases that were evacuated during Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring in 2019. The U.S. forces had previously vacated these bases, including Sarrin and Sabit, allowing Russian forces to move in and establish their presence. During the 2019 evacuation of U.S. bases in northern Syria, significant fortifications such as Hesco barriers, tents, and other defensive structures were left largely intact, providing substantial infrastructure for occupying forces. While sensitive equipment was removed or destroyed, other military assets like vehicles, ammunition, and logistical supplies remained, posing a risk of falling into enemy hands. The evacuated bases, including those with airstrips and logistics hubs like Tal Baydar and Shadadi, retained significant operational capabilities. This hasty withdrawal created a strategic vacuum quickly filled by Russian and Syrian forces, establishing their presence and reinforcing their strategic footprint in the region. The U.S. exit thus resulted in a notable shift in regional control and power dynamics.
Since 2019, Russia has taken control of at least five former U.S. military bases in Syria. Initially, three bases were reported to have been taken by Russian forces in 2019, including those near Raqqa, Qamishli, and Tabqa. Following these, Russia also took over additional bases in Manbij and other locations in northern Syria as U.S. forces withdrew under orders from the Trump administration.
Iranian-Backed Militias Mobilize in Eastern Syria as US Forces Heighten Alert
Significant movements by Iranian-backed militias in Deir Ezzor’s Al-Mayadeen and Al-Bukamal deserts have prompted heightened alert from US bases. Supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, these militias have repositioned rocket launchers, triggering vigilance at US installations against potential missile or drone attacks. Recent reports indicate reduced activity at key militia headquarters in Al Bukamal, with top commanders absent and a significant meeting canceled. Commanders like “Hajj Askar ” are relocating to evade targeting. Additionally, Iranian militias halted a weapons shipment from Iraq to Syria due to increased drone surveillance, opting to return the shipment to storage facilities in Al-Qaim, Iraq.
Israeli Strike on Syrian Air Defense in Daraa
Israeli forces executed a precision strike targeting Syrian army air defense sites in Daraa province, southern Syria, on August 5. The operation focused on Tel al-Jaibah, an air defense base, and Tel Umm Horan in western Daraa. This strike follows heightened regional tensions and a vow of retaliation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a recent rocket attack on Majdal Shams, attributed to Hezbollah. Despite the Syrian forces’ attempt to counter the assault with anti-aircraft defenses, the strike did not result in casualties.
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📌 In case you missed it,
📰 THE EARLY PHOENIX August 1, 2024
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