The number of attacks against the coalition, which sent troops to Iraq to fight the Islamic State group, has increased since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
In Monday’s incident, a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) was launched toward a base near Irbil airport in Iraqi Kurdistan, Yehia Rasool, the Iraqi prime minister’s spokesman for military affairs, said in a statement. .
The attack caused injuries, Rasool said, without giving further details.
A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to AFP that a drone strike was launched “against US and coalition forces” at the air base, adding that “we are still awaiting assessments of injuries and damage (if there is)”.
Shortly after the drone strike, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it had launched a drone at another base, near Harir, northeast of Irbil.
This base also houses US and coalition forces.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is an informal formation of armed groups affiliated with the Hashed al-Shaabi coalition of former paramilitaries that are now integrated into Iraq’s regular armed forces.
Since October 17, the American military has recorded 103 attacks against its troops in Iraq and Syria.
Most of these attacks were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which opposes US support for Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In early December, the US embassy in Baghdad was targeted by rocket fire. This attack, the first of its kind since the start of the war in Gaza, was not claimed by any group.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s office announced several arrests and said some had links to the security services.
Washington has about 2,500 troops deployed in Iraq and about 900 in Syria. The international coalition has been fighting the Islamic State group since 2014.