Concern about Iran’s allies
Blinken fears attacks on US facilities in the Middle East
October 22, 2023, 10:15 p.m
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A few days ago, Iraqi militias attacked two US bases in Iraq with drones. Secretary of State Blinken fears further attacks. In Baghdad, embassy staff are being thinned out for security reasons.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken fears attacks on US facilities and US personnel in connection with the Middle East war. “We are concerned about the possibility that Iran’s allies will increase their attacks against our own personnel, our own people,” he said on CBS News. “We believe there is a likelihood of escalation.”
The State Department in Washington also announced that all non-essential embassy staff and their family members would be withdrawn from the Iraqi capital Baghdad. This is happening “because of increasing security threats against US personnel and US facilities.” The consulate staff in the Kurdish-controlled Iraqi city of Erbil will also be largely withdrawn.
A travel warning for Iraq was also issued. US citizens should not travel to the country. Armed forces close to Iran had previously threatened to attack US facilities in Iraq over Washington’s support for Israel.
On Wednesday, two Iran-backed militias attacked US forces with drones in Iraq. According to the Reuters news agency, a small number of soldiers were injured. According to reports, it is unclear who ordered the attacks on the two air bases at Al Harir and Ain al Asad. The so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq – an umbrella organization of Iraqi militias supported by Iran – claimed responsibility for the attack on the Ain al Assad base.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin then announced at the weekend that missile defense systems and additional troops would be deployed to the “entire” Middle East. This is a reaction to the “recent escalation” by Iran and its allies. Austin did not say how many additional US troops would be stationed in the region. Accordingly, a THAAD-type missile defense system and several batteries of Patriot surface-to-air missiles are to be stationed in the region.