US will respond to this week’s Iran-backed attack on troops in Iraq: GeneralThe top US military general vowed Friday to respond to an attack that targeted American troops in Iraq this week, which the Pentagon attributed to Iran-backed militias.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown could not say why the attack occurred, which was the first of its kind in months.
US troops were last attacked at Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria on April 21 and near Al-Assad Airbase in Iraq on April 22. Prior to that, the last reported attacks were in February.
“The key part is we’re going to continue to defend ourselves, and we’re going to respond appropriately at a time in place of our choosing,” Brown said at the Aspen Security Forum.
US and Coalition forces at Iraq’s Al-Assad Airbase successfully intercepted two drones on Tuesday. No troops were injured, but there was damage to the base.
Last week, the top Pentagon official for Middle East policy and the US ambassador to Baghdad met with Iraqi officials to follow up on American troop withdrawal talks. These discussions are expected to continue in Washington next week.
