US base fends off attack on anniversary of Soleimani killings
Two drones, one of which had the text "Soleimani's revenge" on the wing, have been shot down at base with Americans.
On January 3, it is two years since Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani was assassinated on the orders of then-President Donald Trump. (Photo by Ali NAJAFI / AFP)
Photo: ALI NAJAFI
Monday, January 3, 2022, at 11.36
Two armed drones were shot down in Iraq on Monday while heading for a military base housing U.S. troops.
This was stated by a spokesman for the United States International Military Coalition.
The two drones were on their way to the military base, which is located near the international airport in Iraq's capital, Baghdad.
However, the base's defense system managed to react and shot down both drones. No one was injured, according to the coalition.
The attack falls on the anniversary of the US assassination of Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani. He was killed near Baghdad airport two years ago - on January 3, 2020 - at the behest of then-President Donald Trump.
Something may indicate that Monday's attack was to retaliate for that killing.
In any case, there was "Soleimani's revenge" on one of the two drones' wings. It shows video footage from the US-led coalition.
"This was a dangerous attack on a civilian airport," the coalition said.
No one has blamed the attack on Monday morning Danish time.
Hundreds of supporters of Iranian militia groups gathered in Baghdad on Sunday to mark the anniversary of Soleimani's death. At the same time, they could be heard singing slanderous songs against the United States, writes the news agency Reuters.
Relations between Iran and the United States have been deteriorating in recent years.
Tensions escalated in 2018, when the United States withdrew from a major nuclear deal with Iran from 2015 and instead reintroduced sanctions against the country.
The enmity culminated in the American killing of Soleimani in 2020. The senior military leader was one of the most powerful men in Iran.
Iran then responded again by firing several ballistic missiles at the Ain Al-Asad air base in western Iraq. Also an air base in Erbil in the northern and Kurdish part of the country was shelled by the Iranians.
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Google Translate isn't flawless. "No one has taken the blame for the attack".
