Iraq: two rockets target a base housing US soldiers

Two rockets fell on Sunday April 4 near the Balad air base, sheltering American soldiers north of Baghdad, three days before the resumption of "

strategic dialogue

" with the new American administration.

The rocket fire caused no casualties or damage, a security source told AFP.

They have not been claimed, but Washington regularly accuses pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups of targeting its troops and diplomats.

Read also: The United States threatens to leave Iraq

This is the fourteenth attack, including six rocket attacks, targeting American troops, the United States embassy or Iraqi convoys providing logistical support to foreign troops since Joe Biden arrived at the White House in January.

During these attacks - preceded by dozens of others under Donald Trump's administration - two Americans were killed, as well as an Iraqi civilian.

Another Iraqi man, working for an Iraqi Army F-16 aircraft maintenance company, was injured in the rocket attacks.

What about the 2,500 American soldiers?

On Wednesday April 7, the new American administration will begin a "

strategic dialogue

" by videoconference with the Iraqi government of Moustafa al-Kazimi, regularly threatened by the pro-Iran armed factions.

As a boost before the start of the talks, Washington already granted Baghdad a new respite a few days ago: four new months of exemption from sanctions targeting entities trading with Iran, to allow Iraq to '' approach summer - one of the hottest in the world - with enough electricity to supply homes with air conditioning and other equipment.

Read also: Nuclear: bloodless, Iran increases pressure on the United States

At the end of February, the United States carried out a raid against pro-Iran Iraqi militiamen in Syria.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), 22 Iraqi militiamen had perished.

According to the Pentagon, the strike only killed one person.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby admitted that the strike had not had the expected deterrent effect but pleaded that "

no one wants an escalation

."

Read also: How Baghdad tracks down the mole who allegedly delivered Soleimani

In January 2020, such a spiral almost escalated into open conflict in Iraq, after an American drone killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, in response to the deaths of Americans in Iraq.