Iran-backed Iraqi militia claims drone, missile strikes on Israel

MAn Iran-backed Iraqi militia group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks targeting “vital sites” in Israel on Sunday.

The group asserted that these strikes were a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and a response to what they described as “massacres perpetrated by the occupation against civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.”

While specific details regarding the targeted locations were not disclosed, the militia reported launching drones and upgraded cruise missiles aimed at northern and southern Israel. Israeli Army Radio indicated that three drones launched from Iraq were intercepted without causing any injuries or damage, with interceptions taking place near the Israel-occupied Syrian Golan Heights, as noted by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

The attacks come amid heightened tensions following Israel’s ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in nearly 41,400 deaths, primarily among women and children, since the October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas last year. This latest development underscores the escalating conflict and the increasing involvement of regional players in the confrontation, raising concerns about further instability in the area.