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WASHINGTON - New air defense systems are now protecting American and allied forces at military bases in Iraq where troops have been attacked by Iranian-backed insurgents in recent months, according to U.S. officials.
Patriot missile launchers and two other short-range systems are now in place at al-Asad Air Base, where Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against U.S. and coalition troops in January, and at the military base in Irbil, said officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive weapons movement. A short-range rocket defense system was installed at Camp Taji.
The military has been gradually moving the defensive systems into Iraq over the last few months to provide more protection for troops that have seen a series of rocket and missile attacks.
Soon after Iran launched a massive ballistic missile assault against troops at al-Asad in January, questions were raised about the lack of air defense systems at the bases. But it has taken time to overcome tensions and negotiate with Iraqi leaders, and to also locate defense systems that could be shifted into Iraq.
Systems are operational
Prior to the missile attacks, U.S. military leaders did not believe the systems were needed there, more than in other locations around the world where such strikes are more frequent.
The systems are now operational, as top U.S. officials warn that threats from Iranian proxy groups continue.
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday. that because of that threat, hundreds of soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, remain in Iraq.
He said only one battalion was allowed to return to Fort Bragg, N.C., "in part because the situation with the Shia militia groups and Iran has not 100 percent settled down." He added that "they will continue their mission until such time that we think the threat has subsided."
Several rockets hit near the site of an American oilfield service company in southern Iraq this week. It was the first such attack in recent months to target U.S. energy interests. Americans had already left the location.
Trump: Iran planning attack
President Donald Trump early last week said his administration has received intelligence that Iran is planning a strike. He provided no details, but he warned Iran in a tweet that if U.S. troops are attacked by Iran or its proxies, "Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!"
Other officials in recent weeks said there had been an increase in intelligence pointing to a possible large attack. But they said this week that the threat appears to have tapered off, as countries grapple with the rapidly spreading coronavirus.
Still, military leaders have argued that U.S. and coalition troops needed the extra protection because threats from the Iranian proxies continue and it's unclear how much control Tehran may have over them, particularly now as the virus hits Iran hard.
U.S. soldiers injured in attack
In early January, the U.S. launched an airstrike in Baghdad that killed Iran's most powerful military officer, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Kataib Hezbollah, one of those militias, has been responsible for a number of attacks on U.S., Iraqi and coalition forces.
The Soleimani killing triggered the Iran ballistic missile attack, which resulted in traumatic brain injuries to more than 100 American troops.
Iraqi leaders, however, were angry over the al-Muhandis killing, and protests around the county had been calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Those conditions made negotiations over the Patriot systems very sensitive.
In addition, Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, told reporters that moving Patriots and other systems to Iraq was tricky because it meant he would have to take the systems from another location where they were also needed. Officials have not said where the systems in Iraq were taken from.
It also has taken time to move the large systems, piece by piece, into Iraq, assemble them and and link them together.
Patriot, C-RAM, Avenger systems added
The Patriot batteries, which are designed to protect against missiles, are at al-Asad and Irbil. In addition, the so-called Army C-RAM system is being used and is able to take out rockets and mortars. And the more sophisticated Avenger air defense system can counter low-flying missiles and aircraft, including drones and helicopters.
Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and has steadily reimposed U.S. sanctions on Iran that had been eased or lifted under the terms of the deal. Late last month, the administration slapped sanctions on 20 Iranian people and companies for supporting Shia militia responsible for attacks on U.S. forces.
Currently, there are more than 6,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. While some forces have been withdrawn over the past few months, others have flowed in to set up and operate the new air defense systems.