Armed groups in Iraq and Syria launched new attacks against the US military on Friday, while the US government imposed sanctions on Iraqi paramilitary organisations.
Military drones were launched at two sites in Iraq and one site in Syria against bases used by the US military. Al-Harir Air Base in Erbil, Iraq, was attacked. No one was hurt, but there was material damage.
However, the drone attack on Al-Asad base in western Iraq did not result in casualties or damage. Drones fired at Tal Baydar air base in northeastern Syria caused a soldier to suffer minor injuries, officials said.
Since October 17, at least 60 attacks have been launched against US forces in Syria and Iraq by various armed Islamist groups, with at least 59 soldiers sustaining mostly minor injuries.
In response, the US military has carried out several air strikes in Syria in recent weeks against warehouses of armed groups.
On Friday, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on six members and supporters of one of the leading Shiite militias in Iraq. According to the announcement, others include a member of the Shura Council who leads the armed organization Kataib Hezbollah, as well as its head of foreign affairs, and a senior official in the elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The Al-Quds Brigade, which organizes the training of Iraqi militia members, was subjected to punitive measures. Many recent attacks against US interests are linked to Kataib Hezbollah.
All assets of those involved have been kept in the United States or with organizations with American interests on the basis of sanctions, and all commercial relations with them are prohibited for American companies.
Meanwhile, the US State Department included another Iraqi paramilitary organization on the sanctions list, the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, also backed by Iran, which is also considered responsible for attacks against Americans.
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