U.S. Airstrikes To Deter Attacks on U.S. Bases in Iraq Deter Nothing

On June 29, about a day and a half after U.S. airstrikes on Iraqi militia groups that the U.S. blames for rocket and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby claimed that “they really were intended to disrupt and deter future attacks.” Events over July 5-6 show that the attackers have not been deterred. During that period, there were two attacks reported in less than 24 hours, one at the Ain al Asad air base in Anbar province and the other on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Six rockets reportedly hit the airbase at around 2:45 PM yesterday. U.S. military spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said afterwards that three rockets hit the base perimeter but that there were no casualties. At the embassy, U.S. forces detected three drones and shot down one of them inside the Green Zone and apparently countered the other two by electronic means. “Early in the morning of July 6, the defense system was activated inside the American embassy compound in Baghdad and eliminated an air threat,” the embassy said in a statement. “We are working with our Iraqi partners to investigate, and will continue to take all appropriate and necessary measures to protect the safety of our personnel and facilities.”