In a recent escalation of tensions, several rockets targeted the Ain al-Asad base, which houses United States troops in Iraq's western Anbar province. According to an Iraqi security source, "Four rockets fell in the vicinity" of the base. Another security official noted that the attack involved "a drone and three rockets."

A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to AFP that the projectiles landed outside the base without causing any injuries or damage. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The frequency of attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria had increased between October 2023 and February 2024, following the start of Israel's war in the Gaza Strip against Palestinian Hamas. These attacks were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran. However, such attacks had largely ceased until this recent incident.

In a related development, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that several rockets were launched at the Conoco gas field in the Deir ez-Zor countryside in eastern Syria. The US responded with retaliatory airstrikes against positions held by Iran-backed militia groups.

These incidents come just days after a high-level security meeting between US and Iraqi officials in Washington to discuss the future of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq. The delegations reached an understanding on a new phase of the bilateral security relationship, which includes cooperation through liaison officers, training, and traditional security cooperation programs, according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.

While Baghdad has emphasized its aim to conclude the presence of coalition forces in the country, Washington describes the step as a "transition" in the coalition's role. State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller mentioned that discussions regarding the US military presence in Iraq are ongoing.

In January, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani presided over the first meeting of the US-Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC) to discuss the coalition’s future mission in Iraq. The US currently has around 2,500 soldiers stationed in Iraq. Pro-Iran militia groups have repeatedly called for their withdrawal and have carried out numerous attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria, to which Washington has responded with airstrikes.