Drones Target US-Hosting Base in Northern Iraq After 13th Night Strikes
Explosive-laden drones struck a military base in northern Iraq hosting US forces on Friday, hours after CENTCOM's 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, Kurdish security officials said.
Developing story — this page will be updated as information becomes available.
Explosive-laden drones targeted a military base in northern Iraq that hosts American forces on Friday, hours after the US military launched its 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, The Hill reported, citing Kurdish security officials.
What we know
The attack landed in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq — home to several installations that host US and coalition personnel — and involved multiple explosive-laden drones, according to Kurdish security officials cited by The Hill. The strike came within hours of US Central Command completing its latest wave of strikes against Iran, the 13th consecutive night of the US air campaign.
The drone attack follows a widening pattern of Iran-linked retaliation targeting American and allied positions across the Gulf. Overnight, Iranian missiles struck US military infrastructure in Jordan and hit sites in Kuwait, and sirens sounded in Bahrain on Friday morning, the Jerusalem Post reported.
No US military statement had been issued at the time of publication confirming casualties or damage at the northern Iraq base. CENTCOM has not attributed Friday’s drone attack to a specific group.
What we don’t know
The exact base struck, the number of drones involved, and any US or coalition casualties have not been publicly confirmed. Whether the attack was carried out directly by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq — of the kind that repeatedly targeted US positions during the 2019–2024 period — or by a different actor is not yet established. This story is developing.
Context
Friday’s drone attack pushes the current US–Iran exchange into territory that had, until now, remained mostly confined to direct strikes on Iranian soil and Iranian missile fire against Gulf targets. Iraq’s hosting of US forces has historically been the pressure point Tehran uses to bleed American deployments without engaging the US military directly. Our earlier coverage tracked the 13th night of US strikes on Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz islands, and the Iranian missile salvos against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan that opened the second week of Gulf-wide strikes.
The Iraqi government, which has spent the past two years negotiating the drawdown of US forces on its territory, will face immediate pressure from Baghdad’s Iran-aligned political blocs to demand a full withdrawal if Friday’s attack triggers a US response inside Iraq.
What to watch
- Whether CENTCOM or the Pentagon confirms US casualties, damage, or the identity of the base attacked.
- Whether a US strike inside Iraq — the first of this cycle — follows in the next 24 hours.
- Whether Baghdad issues a formal protest or moves to accelerate the US withdrawal timetable.
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