A vow of an imminent escalation in Iraq after America deployed the Patriot system

The United States has begun deploying Patriot defense systems at Ein al-Assad bases in Anbar Province in western Iraq and Harir in Arbil, in the north of the country, which has sparked speculation of an imminent escalation against pro-Iranian factions.

One of the Patriot batteries reached the Ain al-Assad base, where US soldiers are deployed, last week, and is being installed, according to an American military official and an Iraqi military source.

The American official said that another battery arrived at a silk base in Erbil, noting that two other batteries are still in Kuwait, awaiting transportation to Iraq.

Patriot systems consist of highly sophisticated radars and interceptor missiles that are capable of destroying a ballistic missile while flying.

The Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades were quick to call on their members to beware of the possibility of American forces carrying out an air strike on "specific sites" in Baghdad or the areas close to it.

Iraq was opposed to the deployment of the American defense system, fearing that its neighbor, Tehran, the archenemy of the United States, would view it as a threat and an escalation.

And Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi warned on Monday of the presence of strange aircraft near Iraqi camps, calling at the same time to stop targeting foreign missions and military bases.

Possible scenarios
Commenting on these developments, researchers and specialists said that the deployment of American forces to the expensive and defensive Patriot system is evidence that there are possible Iranian ballistic missile attacks, while excluding that the missile system was installed for Katyusha missiles launched by Iraqi armed groups that reject the American presence in Iraq. .

Observers of Iraqi affairs said that the recent escalation and talk of anticipated attacks by armed factions' camps are the beginning of a war between the international coalition and armed factions loyal to the popular crowd.

The Patriot deployment coincides with the accelerated pace of the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition forces from military bases in Iraq, most recently the presidential palaces in the northern city of Mosul yesterday.

There was no comment from Iraq on the news of the deployment of the Patriot system, but the parliament was demanding the removal of all foreign forces from the country, in the wake of an American raid that led to the killing of the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and "Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis", deputy chief of the popular crowd near Baghdad airport in early January. Last January.
The installation of this system means the exclusion of a near exit of American forces from Iraq, according to observers.

Accelerated withdrawal
In the past few days, the international coalition and US forces have handed over positions at military bases in Al-Qaim, Qayyarah and "K1" district in Kirkuk.

A US official spoke several days ago of indications that the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades were seeking to attack American forces, and that they had become more aggressive, while the administration of President Donald Trump was looking into confrontational options.

The Washington Post quoted the US official as saying that officials receive near-daily reports of impending attacks by the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades on American military or diplomatic facilities.

The Washington Post reported, citing two sources, that the administration discussed on the 11th of this month a list of targets, including sites linked to the Revolutionary Guards in Iran and Syria, but the proposal was rejected for fear that it would lead to a further escalation.