BAGHDAD — Fighters belonging to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said they carried out a rocket strike on a US military installation housing a logistics support center near Baghdad International Airport, marking the latest escalation in a widening regional confrontation that has spread across multiple countries.
In a statement released Friday, the Shia resistance movement said its fighters targeted the Victoria Base, a US facility located within the airport complex, earlier this week. “Our fighters launched a rocket strike on the US Victoria base at the Baghdad airport on March 3,” the group said.
The claim comes amid a rapidly escalating regional crisis after Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iranian territory, triggering a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran that analysts say could reshape the Middle East security landscape. The escalation follows what regional observers describe as the moment when Israel and Iran conflict escalated into open war, setting off a chain of retaliatory actions across the region.
The Victoria Base sits within the heavily fortified perimeter of Baghdad International Airport and is used by US forces as a logistics and operational hub supporting American military activities in Iraq and neighboring countries.
Iraqi security officials confirmed that rockets were fired toward the airport area. Authorities later seized a vehicle carrying a rocket launcher believed to have been used in the attack after several rockets landed near the airport perimeter without causing casualties or major damage, according to Iraqi security reports.
Militia Groups Expand Attacks on US Bases
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is an umbrella label used by several Iran-aligned armed factions operating across Iraq. These groups have increasingly claimed responsibility for attacks on US military positions since tensions surged across the Middle East.
In recent days, militia factions reported a series of operations targeting American facilities in Iraq and neighboring regions. According to regional reporting, Islamic Resistance in Iraq launched drone attacks on the Victoria military base inside the Baghdad airport complex.
The attacks are part of a broader campaign by regional armed groups responding to Israeli and US military actions against Iran. Analysts say the conflict is increasingly shifting toward a multi-front confrontation involving both state and non-state actors.
Recent reporting indicates that rocket and drone attacks hit multiple US bases across Iraq as militia factions attempt to pressure Washington to withdraw its remaining troops from the country.
At the same time, Iraqi authorities say security forces have intensified patrols and surveillance operations around key military installations and airports following reports that security forces seized rockets aimed at Baghdad International Airport after the latest attack.
Regional War After Israeli Strikes on Iran
The attacks on US facilities in Iraq are closely linked to the broader war that erupted after Israeli forces launched large-scale airstrikes on Iranian territory.
The Israeli military operation, widely known as “Operation Rising Lion,” involved hundreds of aircraft targeting Iranian military facilities and strategic infrastructure. The strikes triggered widespread condemnation across the region, with several governments warning that the conflict could spiral into a broader war.
Previous reporting detailed how Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure struck multiple strategic sites, dramatically escalating tensions between the two longtime rivals.
Following the attacks, several regional powers issued strong statements condemning the operation. Diplomatic responses included statements from Moscow, where officials said Israel’s attacks on Iran were condemned by Russia as a dangerous escalation threatening international stability.
Across the Arab world, governments also reacted sharply. Analysts noted that Arab nations condemned the Israeli attacks on Iran, warning that the strikes could ignite a wider regional conflict.
Pressure on US Military Presence in Iraq
The continued presence of US forces in Iraq remains one of the most sensitive political issues in the country. American troops are stationed at several military installations under a coalition mission originally created to combat the Islamic State group.
However, many Iraqi political factions and armed groups have long opposed the continued deployment of foreign troops. Analysts note that According to security analysts, Islamic Resistance in Iraq carried out multiple drone and missile strikes targeting US facilities across the region in response to the escalating conflict.
Regional reporting also suggests that militias claimed dozens of attacks against US bases in Iraq since the confrontation began.
Risk of a Wider Middle East Conflict
Military analysts warn that the growing number of attacks on US military installations could trigger retaliatory strikes by American forces, potentially drawing Iraq deeper into the regional conflict.
Recent incidents have highlighted the volatile security situation across the region. In one case, Iraqi air defenses intercepted a drone targeting the Baghdad airport complex, illustrating how the confrontation is increasingly spilling across borders.
Experts say the attacks on the Victoria Base demonstrate how the conflict between Israel and Iran is rapidly transforming into a broader regional struggle involving multiple armed groups, governments, and strategic military installations.
As tensions continue to rise, Iraq now finds itself at the center of a geopolitical confrontation that stretches from the Persian Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean.
With armed groups mobilizing across the region and retaliatory attacks continuing, security officials warn that further strikes on military bases, airports, and infrastructure remain highly likely in the coming days.
