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Recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have sparked fresh tensions in the Middle East, with Iran-backed armed groups reportedly preparing retaliatory attacks on American military bases, according to The New York Times. U.S. military and intelligence agencies have detected preparations by Iran-aligned militias, with potential targets including the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq’s Anbar province and other U.S. positions in Syria.
Neither the White House nor Tehran has issued an official statement on the matter. However, sources indicate that the Iraqi government is making concerted efforts to prevent these attacks and claims to have the militias under control for now.
The Ain al-Asad airbase, a key U.S. military hub in western Iraq, supports Iraqi forces and NATO operations. The base previously came under heavy missile attack by Iran in 2020, following the U.S. drone strike that killed Quds Force commander General Qassem Soleimani. Another critical U.S. and allied presence is at the Erbil airbase in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, which serves as a hub for intelligence sharing, training, and logistical support.
Iran-backed groups, including Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi (comprising Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Badr Organization), are known for their anti-U.S. activities. Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a close Iranian ally, has long been engaged in conflict with Israel. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have conducted drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel, while Syria hosts Iran-supported Fatemiyoun (Afghan fighters) and Zainabiyoun (Pakistani Shia) brigades, which fight for the Assad regime. These groups are coordinated, funded, and armed by Iran’s Quds Force, the foreign operations wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
As tensions rise, the region braces for potential escalation, with global attention focused on how the situation will unfold.
AI/MR
