Coalition withdrawal from base near Baghdad worries locals
The recent pullout of international coalition personnel from Camp Taji, the first airstrike in years in an area close to the capital, and continued targeting of facilities keep tensions high as the drawdown continues.
ERBIL — Mortars and rockets continue to target Baghdad facilities hosting personnel from the international anti-Islamic State (IS) coalition, for the most part causing little to no material damage as the drawdown of international coalition troops in the country continues.
On Sept. 7, three rockets reportedly targeted the Baghdad International Airport, one of which damaged four vehicles belonging to civilians in the parking lot.
The following day, an Iraqi Interior Ministry circular seen by Al-Monitor warned security and logistics companies operating in the country with contracts with the United States that intelligence had discovered their locations had been shared and they were now under greater threat.
The shooting at the Baghdad facilities appears to be harassment not intended to inflict major damage or take lives; otherwise, the attacks might result in reactions that the presumably Iran-linked armed groups claiming responsibility for them may be trying to avoid.
