The Pentagon: 61 attacks on American and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria

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[size=52]The Pentagon: 61 attacks on American and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria[/size]

[size=45]The United States said that its forces in Iraq were subjected to at least 61 attacks within a month, while confirming that Tehran cannot use financial resources from selling electricity to Iraq except to purchase goods that are not subject to sanctions.[/size]
[size=45]This was in response to the criticism directed at extending Iraq’s exemption to pay debts to Iran. A Pentagon official said that American and coalition forces were subjected to at least 61 attacks within a month, confirming that an American soldier was injured in Syria. The official indicated in a press statement that American and coalition forces have been subjected to at least 61 attacks using drones and missiles since October 17, adding that 29 of them were in Iraq, and 32 in Syria. The official noted that most of these attacks were thwarted or failed to reach their goals. The official confirmed that an American soldier was slightly injured in the attack on the Tal Baidar base in Syria, and the attack also caused damage to the infrastructure, while the attacks on the Ain al-Asad air base and the Bashur (Al-Harir) base in Iraq did not result in any injuries or damage. Earlier Friday, two American officials, who requested to remain anonymous, told Reuters that an American soldier was slightly injured on Friday, in the latest wave of attacks on American forces in Syria and Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]The United States has blamed Iran and the armed factions it supports for more than 60 attacks on American forces in Iraq and Syria since mid-October, with regional tensions escalating due to the war between Israel and the Hamas movement that began on October 7. At least 60 soldiers have suffered minor injuries, most of them brain injuries, since October 17. Officials say all Americans who were infected have returned to duty. On the other hand, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrian Watson confirmed that Tehran can only use financial resources from selling electricity to Iraq to purchase goods that are not subject to sanctions. This was in response to the criticism directed at extending Iraq’s exemption to pay debts to Iran. American officials announced that the government of this country has once again extended Iraq's exemption to import electricity and gas from Iran for a period of four months. Watson said she had witnessed “some misleading political attacks” regarding Iran obtaining resources from selling electricity to Iraq. The White House National Security Council spokeswoman explained: “This is the 21st time that the US government has extended these exemptions and continues the procedure it began during the Trump administration.” She added, “The extension of these exemptions does not indicate any change in our policy towards Iran or Iraq.”[/size]
[size=45]She said that the purpose of extending these exemptions is to prevent a sudden interruption of electricity access to the Iraqi people or an unnecessary increase in energy prices in this country. This White House official stated that Iraq is moving towards energy independence with America's encouragement, but achieving this independence will take time.[/size]
[size=45]“The claim that Biden allowed this money (from Baghdad) to go to Tehran is false,” Adrienne Watson said. These resources are kept outside Iran in accounts with limited access. “These resources can only be used to purchase non-sanctioned goods such as food and medicine. They go directly to financial institutions in other countries and are never transferred to Iran.” The White House National Security Council spokeswoman stated that the Joe Biden administration has shown that it is still seeking to hold the Iranian regime accountable.[/size]
[size=45]She added: “Since the Joe Biden administration took over in 2021, we have imposed sanctions on 400 Iranian entities, 300 of them in the past year alone, due to all kinds of destabilizing behavior, mistreatment of demonstrators, and Iran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.”[/size]
[size=45]American officials confirmed that about $10 billion of Iraq’s debt to Iran in exchange for purchasing gas and electricity is currently in bank accounts in Iraq, and this new exemption will allow Baghdad to import its energy without worrying about “US sanctions due to violating Iran’s sanctions.”[/size]
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