US and coalition forces at Al Asad Airbase in Iraq have intercepted two drones, a US defence official said on Tuesday, in the first such attack in months.
“All personnel are accounted for, and no injuries are reported,” the official said, noting that the situation was “evolving”.
The official did not say if the drones were armed, but Reuters cited sources as saying they were.
The attack is believed to be the first against US forces in Iraq since early February, and comes at a politically sensitive time as Washington prepares for high-level discussions over its presence in Iraq.
“In many ways, this attack comes completely out of nowhere, but in others, it makes perfect sense and fits within Iran's typical modus operandi,” Charles Lister, director of the Syria and countering terrorism and extremism programme at Washington's Middle East Institute, told The National.
“It's a pressure tactic designed to shape conditions ahead of next week's US-Iraq talks in Washington over the coalition presence on Iraqi soil.
“In times of calm, the US's position in those talks is strengthened, but in times of tension, the Iraqi government will be reminded of its need to answer to the ever-strong PMF constituency in Baghdad.”
Iraqi groups and others had been involved in a wave of attacks on American interests in the region after the start of the Israel-Gaza war.
The US responded by carrying out a series of strikes, mostly on Syria but also on Iraq, which in November prompted Baghdad to accuse Washington of a “breach of Iraqi sovereignty”.
The Iraq-based attacks stopped after the US and the Iraqi government began to engage in talks over a timeline for withdrawing American forces from the country.
But a powerful militia leader in Iraq warned late last month that all US interests in the region, particularly in Iraq, will be attacked if Washington supports any Israeli military operation against Lebanon.
Tuesday's strike also came just hours after Iranian Gen Ismail Qaani visited Tehran-linked proxy groups in Iraq and Syria.
“The intention, I assume, will be to coax the US into responding, which is unlikely to happen after this one attack, but if there are more to come, it will set up conditions for next week's talks perfectly as far as Iran is concerned,” Mr Lister said.
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Bridgerton season three - part one
Directors: Various
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine:+1.5-litre+turbo
Power:+181hp
Torque:+230Nm
Transmission:+6-speed+automatic
Starting+price:+Dh79,000
On+sale:+Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: SmartCrowd
Started: 2018
Founder: Siddiq Farid and Musfique Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech / PropTech
Initial investment: $650,000
Current number of staff: 35
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Various institutional investors and notable angel investors (500 MENA, Shurooq, Mada, Seedstar, Tricap)
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Roll of Honour, men’s domestic rugby season
West Asia Premiership
Champions: Dubai Tigers
Runners up: Bahrain
UAE Premiership
Champions: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division 1
Champions: Dubai Sharks
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
UAE Division 2
Champions: Dubai Tigers III
Runners up: Dubai Sharks II
Dubai Sevens
Champions: Dubai Tigers
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
How to avoid getting scammed
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Four scenarios for Ukraine war
1. Protracted but less intense war (60% likelihood)
2. Negotiated end to the conflict (30%)
3. Russia seizes more territory (20%)
4. Ukraine pushes Russia back (10%)
Forecast by Economist Intelligence Unit
Sri Lanka squad for tri-nation series
Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
The specs
Engine:+2-litre+or+3-litre+4Motion+all-wheel-drive Power:+250Nm+(2-litre);+340+(3-litre) Torque:+450Nm Transmission:+8-speed+automatic Starting+price:+From+Dh212,000 On+sale:+Now