Attacks against U.S. troops in the Middle East have increased since Hamas attacked Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced trip to Baghdad, Iraq, where he attended a meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to discuss how best to prevent broader conflict in the Middle East.
A string of attacks launched against American troops stationed in the area led to Secretary Blinken’s visit with Prime Minister al-Sudani. According to U.S. officials, in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel October 7, the troops were attacked by rockets and drones 14 times in Iraq and nine times in Syria between October 17 and 30, experiencing significantly increased aggression from local militant groups.
The secretary of state said after their discussion that he and Prime Minister al-Sudani had a “good, productive, candid meeting.” However, he said, “It was very important to send a very clear message to anyone who might seek to take advantage of the conflict in Gaza to threaten our personnel here or anywhere else in the region: ‘Don’t do it.’”
Secretary Blinken stated, “I made very clear that the attacks, the threats coming from the militia that are aligned with Iran are totally unacceptable and we will take every necessary step to protect our people.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Blinken to seek the Lord’s direction as he meets with foreign heads of state.
- For the safety of U.S. troops around the world, particularly those posted in the Middle East.
Sources: CNN, The Hill
