Iraq: US forces on higher alert, fearing response following airstrike in Syria
The United States has put its forces in Iraq on higher alert following a US airstrike targeting Iranian-backed militias in Syria, a coalition spokesperson confirmed to Rudaw on Saturday.
“We’ve had a temporary increase in the force protection posture of the forces deployed to the region to ensure appropriate force protection,” coalition spokesperson Colonel Wayne Marotto confirmed to Rudaw’s Rekar Aziz in a text message on Saturday.
“For operational security reasons, we do not discuss specifics on force disposition, future operations, or deployments,” added Marotto.
Marotto said changing alert levels are “not out of the ordinary” in light of recent events, adding that the Coalition reserves “the right to meet any provocation with the appropriate level of Force protection to defend themselves.