Drones from Iraq target al-Hasakah in Syria

Syria’s Assistant Defense Minister for the eastern region, Sipan Hamo, announced at dawn on Sunday, March 29, that the Qasrak base in al-Hasakah governorate came under a drone attack launched from Iraqi territory, in the third attack on Syrian territory from Iraq within a week.

In a post on X, Hamo said four drones were launched from Iraqi territory toward the base late on Saturday, adding that they were successfully shot down without any losses.

The assistant defense minister condemned the attack and held Iraq responsible for preventing such operations from recurring, saying they “threaten the stability of the region.”

He also stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation to ensure security and stability in the area.

An Enab Baladi correspondent in al-Hasakah reported that coalition forces shot down drones in several parts of the governorate at dawn today, including near the Istirahat al-Wazir base north of al-Hasakah, which had been evacuated by the coalition several months ago, Mushayrifat al-Hamma north of al-Hasakah city, Tel Massas village between al-Hasakah and Tell Tamer, and al-Hamra neighborhood in Tell Tamer.

The correspondent added that some of the drones managed to reach and hit the base, while missiles were also intercepted near the Khirab al-Jir base in the Rmeilan area, east of al-Qamishli.

He said the interceptions were carried out by coalition anti-aircraft defenses and warplanes.

The announcement came hours after another attack targeted the al-Tanf base in the Syrian desert, according to the Syrian army’s Operations Command.

In statements carried by the state-run al-Ikhbariya on Sunday, March 29, the command said Syrian forces had repelled a drone attack launched from Iraq.

It added that the drones had attempted to target a Syrian army base in the al-Tanf area.

Rocket attack and PMF-linked cell

On March 23, the Syrian army’s Operations Command said a military base near the town of al-Yarubiyah in the countryside of al-Hasakah came under rocket fire.

In statements to the state-run al-Ikhbariya, the command said the attack was carried out with five rockets launched from the vicinity of Tal al-Hawa village, 20 km inside Iraqi territory.

The command said the Syrian side had contacted Iraq to coordinate on the incident, adding that the Iraqi army had begun search operations for those responsible, before Iraq announced on March 24 the arrest of four people involved in the attack.

It also noted that “the Syrian army is on full alert and will carry out its responsibilities to defend Syrian territory and repel any aggression.”

In related security developments, Enab Baladi’s correspondent reported at the time that Syrian intelligence had arrested a cell affiliated with Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces in the eastern Syrian governorate.

Quoting a source in Syrian intelligence, the correspondent said the cell consisted of six people involved in transferring information and smuggling weapons, without providing further details.

In recent weeks, some members and leaders of the Popular Mobilization Forces have escalated their rhetoric against Syria’s new authorities, which adopted a neutral stance toward the Israeli-Iranian escalation, while the Iraqi government has avoided officially endorsing that escalation.

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