US facilities in Iraq have been attacked more than 600 times since Washington and Israel launched their war against Iran, a senior US State Department official has revealed. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the official said Iran and allied militias have repeatedly targeted the US embassy in Baghdad and a facility at the capital’s airport, forcing the mission to operate with a skeleton staff. Washington is pressing Iraq’s incoming prime minister-designate, Ali Al Zaidi, to crack down on what it calls “terrorist militias”, warning that elements of the Iraqi state still provide them with political, financial and operational cover. The US wants militias expelled from state institutions and cut off from budget funds and salaries. President Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, with a ceasefire in place since April 7, the official noted, amid concerns over Iraq’s political stability there.
