Drone Strikes Target U.S. Forces in Iraq's Airbase

Two armed drones attacked Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase, hosting U.S and international forces, marking the first such attack since February. Defense systems intercepted one drone, and no casualties were reported. The incident precedes an Iraqi military delegation's visit to Washington to discuss U.S. troop withdrawal.

Two armed drones on Tuesday targeted Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase, which hosts U.S. forces and other international forces in western Iraq, according to two Iraqi military sources.

This marks the first attack against U.S. forces in Iraq since early February when Iranian-backed groups had halted their assaults. No casualties have been reported, said the sources.

One of the drones was downed by defense systems near the base perimeter, according to an Iraqi military official. The attack occurred less than a week before an expected visit by a high-level Iraqi military delegation to Washington aimed at continuing discussions on ending the U.S.-led military coalition in the country.

Washington and Baghdad began talks in January to reevaluate the draw-down of the U.S.-led coalition, originally formed in 2014 to combat Islamic State after the extremist group seized large portions of Iraq. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that a projectile appeared to target the base but without causing any casualties.