Attacks against the U.S. by Iran-linked actors have increased by 630% since the Hamas terror attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This surge in malign acts began after the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and continued throughout President Biden’s term. Following the attack on Israel and subsequent conflicts in the region, Iran-backed groups have targeted not only Washington’s allies in the Middle East but also U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, as well as naval vessels targeted by terrorists in Yemen. Iran-backed groups have launched over 204 attacks involving rockets, missiles, and drones against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria since October 17, 2023.
Militia groups in Syria have doubled the number of attacks against U.S. personnel compared to the previous month. The attacks are carried out by Iran-linked organizations such as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which includes terrorist groups like Kataib Hezbollah and others. The recent attacks on U.S. destroyers in Yemen and in northeast Syria underscore the escalating threat posed by Iran-backed groups in the region. These attacks are aimed at degrading the capabilities of U.S. and coalition forces and preventing future strikes on the Iranian homeland from becoming normalized.
Prior to the October 2023 attacks by Hamas, Iran-sanctioned militant groups opted to target U.S. troops over Israeli positions due to the perception that the U.S. response would be less forceful than Israel’s. However, this strategy changed after the attack on Israel, leading to an increase in attacks on U.S. personnel in the region. In response to these threats, the U.S. has targeted weapons storage facilities and militant locations to prevent future attacks. The international community can expect to see increased fighting in Iraq and Syria as Iran-backed militias seek to prevent strikes on their homeland.
Iran has directly fired ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs during its attacks on Israel, while its proxy force, Hezbollah, has launched thousands of projectiles at the Jewish state. Israel has also faced attacks from Iran-backed groups in Iraq, highlighting the complex and escalating nature of the conflict in the region. Security experts believe that Iran will increasingly use its proxies in Iraq and Syria to target Israel using rockets, missiles, and drones provided by Iran. These developments pose a significant threat to stability in the Middle East and require a coordinated response from the international community.
