On August 5, 2024, "DHULFAAQR313", a Telegram channel affiliated with the Iran-backed Iraqi Zulfiqar faction which is part of the Iraqi Hizbullah Brigades, published posts with images and footage showing what it said was a vehicle used to launch rockets on an Iraqi base in Anbar housing U.S. forces.[1]
The posts coincided with news reports citing U.S. officials as saying that a rocket attack targeted Ain Al-Assad base in Anbar, injuring American military personnel.[2]
As of this reporting, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Celebrating the attack, the channel "DHULFAAQR313" published posts that suggested the rocket attack was carried out to avenge the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, as well as the other leaders of Iran-backed factions who were killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The post read: "In the name of Allah, the breaker of tyrants. But Allah's victory is near. [...] These missiles and we have not even begun yet. The war between us begins when you are finished and perish under our fire. Peace be upon the martyrs whenever we bomb you. Peace be upon Hajj [Qassim] Soleimani, peace be upon Hajj [Abu Mahdi] Al-Muhandis, peace be upon Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, peace be upon Hajj Ismail Haniyeh. We are a nation that when its leader is martyred, our blood boils and [new] leaders emerge from it."
Kia Vehicle Used To Launch The Rockets
The channel posted brief footage showing the vehicle used in launching the rocket. Voices of two men speaking in Iraqi dialect can be heard in the background. Another post featured an image of the vehicle indicating that it was a Kia make.
