The US broke six months of silence on the almost weekly attacks that have threatened US forces in Iraq. These have come amid Iran tensions but neither the US or Iraqi authorities have wanted to point the finger at pro-Iranian elements. Yet it has been clear that ISIS was likely not behind the attacks that began in May. The US warned in May and early December that Iran was going to threaten the US or allies.

US officials told AFP they are alarmed by recent attempted attacks.

For instance, “The United States has also been alarmed by an uptick in attacks on its bases in Iraq, where major demonstrations triggered by economic discontent have also targeted Tehran’s overwhelming influence in its Shiite-majority neighbor,” according to a report. “We’re lucky no one has been killed. There is a spike in rocket attacks,” another US official said, adding that the sophistication showed the attacks were not from the Islamic State group.

An official said these were more sophisticated attacks, with larger and better rockets. It comes as theNYT reportedIran transferring short-range ballistic missiles to Iraq.

“It’s clearly not ISIS. Everything is going in the right direction and it’s the right range,” the official said.
The United States has also been alarmed by an uptick in attacks on bases in Iraq, where major demonstrations triggered by economic discontent have also targeted Iran’s clerical regime and its overwhelminginfluence in its Shiite-majority neighbor. – France24
The US initially listed these incidents:
1. Five rockets hit the Al-Asad Air Base on Tuesday, four days after VP Pence was there. “On Tuesday, five rockets landed on Ain Al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. forces in Anbar province in western Iraq without causing any casualties.”

2. More than 12 rockets on Qayyarah base (Q-West)

3. Rocket attacks near US embassy that killed 1 Iraqi soldier

A fourth incident was noted, the most recent one:

“Iraqi military on Thursday said that two Katyusha rockets landed inside Balad air base, which hosts U.S. forces and contractors and is located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Baghdad.”

A list that I compiled is slightly expanded:

According to reports: “US surveillance can identify their origins Iraqi partners quickly get to the scene, usually finding spent launchers.”

In June US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did blame Iran for “a rocket attack on the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, where the U.S. embassy is located.” But nothing more came of it. The US knew that Trump’s comments about “watching” Iran from Iraq in December 2018 and February 2019 had raised eyebrows in Baghdad. It wasn’t mentioned in the Lead Inspector General Report from July to October but was mentioned in the April to June report. “June 15-17 Rockets are fired at the Balad air base and Camp Taji, where U.S. military personnel are based.”

In November the I reported about the Q-West incident: No coalition troops were injured, according to US Marine Corps Capt. Marisa Roberts,the deputy spokeswoman for the US-led coalition. The coalition says that it appreciates the “Iraqi Security Forces’ immediate response and investigation” of the rocket attack, which occurred around 7:45 p.m. Initial reports at Al-Arabiya said 17 projectiles fell.

An email to the Coalition today directed me to CENTCOM.

The US has sought new M-SHORAD solutionsto confront things like this and the US Marines even looked at Israel’s Iron Dome system.

It’s Bull**** 

The official said “the question is, when is someone going to call BS?” he said. According to the samereport “Multiple US diplomatic and military sources have told AFP of their growing frustration with such attacks. They say they are relying on their Iraqi partners to play a ‘de-conflicting’ role between them and the Hashed [Hashd al-Sha’abi or PMU] to prevent any clashes.”

So what can the US do when the PMU is an official part of the Iraqi government but suspicions fall on it for firing rockets? It comes as elements of the PMU close to Iran were accused of suppressing protests. They also have not integrated the way they were intended into the security forces. “We all recognise the danger out here. Sometimes our Iraqi partners say, well what can I do?” the official said.

US State Department chimes in

Iran may have been behind Thursday’s attack on Iraq’s Balad air base, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Friday, but added that Washington was awaiting further evidence, Reuters reported. “We’re waiting for full evidence, but if past is prolog then there’s a good chance that Iran was behind it,” David Schenker, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, told reporters in a briefing. It is concerning, he said. “The Iranians often times, or have certainly in the past, taken aggressive action when they feel under pressure,” he said.