US launches air strike after Iran-backed militants launch ballistic missile strike on US base in Iraq.

 

File photo of an AC-130U. ABC News/Air Force Photo. 

The United States has launched after Iran-backed militias launched a ballistic missile strike on an US base in Iraq. ABC News. The militia launched a ballistic missile from a truck that hit Al-Asad air base in Western Iraq. The missile did some minor damage to base facilities and caused several injuries. An AC-130 was in the area flying overwatch and responded to the attack, destroying the vehicle and killing several militia. This was the first use of ballistic missiles to attack an US base in Iraq or Syria. Iran backed militias have attacked US forces 66 times since the war between Israel and Gaza broke out. 

My Comment:

The low scale war between the United States and these militias in Iraq and Syria continues. This time the militias did not get away with it. An AC-130 happened to be in the area and they utterly destroyed these attackers. It seems like it was just luck though, as the AC-130 was close enough to actually see the missile being launched. 

The attackers on the ground did not stand much of a chance. The AC-130 is excellent against light vehicles and infantry and once the gunship had them in their sights they didn't stand a chance. I doubt any of these attackers survived and there probably wasn't much left of them. 

The use of ballistic missiles in Iraq is a major step out in sophistication for these militias. The Yemen conflict showed how useful those weapons are and it seems that Iran has given these weapons to more than just the Houthi rebels there. Now they are giving them to these militias in Iraq and presumably Syria as well. 

This is a pretty big escalation. In the past these militias had artillery and crappy drones but now they have ballistic missiles. They will be able to launch further attacks and it's only a matter of time before someone gets killed in one of these strikes. 

One does wonder why we even still have troops there in Iraq and Syria. The war with ISIS is pretty much over, ISIS does not have a large presence in either country. Some of it is to counter Iranian ambitions in the region but honestly, that doesn't seem like it is worth it. All these bases seem to accomplish is drawing attacks from these militias. 

I do expect these attacks to continue. Supposedly there have been 66 of them since the war between Israel and Gaza broke out, but you have to remember there was a low intensity conflict even before then. These attacks are mostly status quo ante and will likely continue even if the war between Israel and Gaza is resolved. 

What I don't expect is this devolving into a larger conflict. I expect the same tit-for-tat strike and counterstrike that we have had there for years. Unless Iran itself launches major attacks against US forces a war is extremely unlikely and even then it could be avoided if cooler heads in Washington prevail. Remember, Iran launched a major missile attack on US forces in Iraq in response to the Qasem Soleimani and nothing much happened in response.