Amid escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, a U.S. official told Reuters about an American attack on Iraqi militia positions.
Reuters reports it is still unclear which militia forces in Iraq were targeted, but the U.S. official emphasized that the attack was carried out to defend U.S. forces.
At the same time, Hashd al-Shaabi, the most significant militia group backed by the Iranian regime in Iraq, announced early Wednesday, July 31, that two patrols of their forces were targeted in an airstrike in Babil province, central Iraq.
According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Hashd al-Shaabi stated: “Available information indicates that two patrols of the 47th Brigade in northern Babil province were targeted by missiles fired from a drone, resulting in casualties and injuries among the forces.”
Reuters, citing Iraqi police and hospital sources, reported that four people were killed and three injured in these explosions.
A U.S. official, who wished to remain anonymous, stressed that this attack was carried out due to threats against coalition forces stationed in Iraq.
Iraqi and U.S. officials reported on July 25 the launch of several rockets toward the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq, where U.S.-led coalition forces are stationed, but these attacks caused no damage or casualties.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Israeli army announced that it had killed Fouad Shokr, a commander of Hezbollah, in an airstrike in Beirut.
Hezbollah is financially and militarily supported by the Iranian regime.
