In a perilous development, a convoy of American and coalition troops, part of the anti-jihadist coalition, was targeted by an improvised explosive device (IED) in northern Iraq on Thursday, near the Mosul dam. A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident to AFP. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from the explosion.

This event marks the latest in a series of attacks on U.S. personnel in the region, escalating since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7. According to a U.S. official, U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have faced approximately 40 drone or rocket attacks since October 17, resulting in injuries to dozens of U.S. personnel.

On the same day, authorities in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan reported a drone attack on the Harir military airport in Irbil province, causing a fire in a fuel depot. The attack occurred after the coalition had troops at the site until October 20, according to a statement from the counter-terrorism services in Iraqi Kurdistan.

In the night of Wednesday into Thursday, a drone attack targeted a military airport where coalition troops of the U.S.-led anti-jihadist coalition were based, according to local authorities. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported, and it remains unclear whether the drones were intercepted.

The recent attacks have mostly been claimed by a group known as the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq," as per Telegram channels affiliated with Iraqi factions close to Tehran.

Approximately 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq, with an additional 900 in Syria, as part of the international anti-jihadist coalition established in 2014. The coalition emphasizes its role as advisory and supportive to local counterparts.

In response to the escalating attacks, on Wednesday, U.S. warplanes carried out a strike on an Iran-linked weapons storage facility in eastern Syria. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that this action was a response to the attacks against American personnel. The attacks have been attributed to Iran by Washington, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken labeling them as "totally unacceptable."

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has condemned the attacks and pledged investigations to identify and hold accountable those responsible. The situation remains tense as regional tensions continue to unfold.