Syria25 March, 20263 min read
Iraqi Militias Fire Rockets at Syrian Base Near Al-Yarubiyah
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Five rockets launched from Iraqi territory hit a Syrian base near Al-Yarubiyah in Hasakah. Iraqi authorities arrested four suspects connected to the rocket attack.
Attack Overview
Iraqi militias launched rocket attacks from Iraqi territory targeting a Syrian military base near Al-Yarubiyah in Hasakah province on Monday, March 25, 2026. The attack involved multiple missiles fired from the vicinity of Tal al-Hawa village, located approximately 20 kilometers inside Iraqi territory, according to Syrian state media and multiple international sources.
“An Iranian-backed militia targeted a military base in Syria with rocket fire on Monday, one of the hundreds of attacks that Iraqi militias have carried out since the start of the war with Iran on February 28.”
The Syrian Arab Army's Operations Command confirmed that five missiles struck the military base near al-Yarubiyeh in Hasakah countryside, though some sources reported at least seven rockets were launched. The incident occurred amidst heightened regional tensions following the start of war with Iran on February 28, with hundreds of similar attacks carried out by Iraqi militias over the past decade.
Syrian Response
In response to the attack, Syrian military officials declared they were on full alert and vowed to respond to any aggression against Syrian territory. Syrian state media SANA reported that coordination had been established with Iraqi authorities, who confirmed that Iraqi forces had begun search and sweep operations to pursue those responsible.
The Syrian Arab Army affirmed it would carry out its duties to defend Syrian territory, emphasizing its readiness to respond to any future attacks. The targeted base near Al-Yarubiyah was identified by Syrian officials as a Kharab al-Jir military installation, though reports differed on whether the base housed American forces, with some sources explicitly noting the absence of American connections in Syrian accounts.
Militia Involvement
Multiple armed groups claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, though conflicting reports emerged about which specific organization was behind the strike. The group 'Saraya Awliya al-Dam' claimed responsibility for the attack on the military base, according to Al-Jazeera Net reporting. Meanwhile, The Jerusalem Post identified the broader context of Iranian-backed militias operating in Iraq, noting that Kataib Hezbollah had previously maintained a headquarters in Albukamal in Syria near the Iraqi border.
“The group 'Saraya Awliya al-Dam' claimed responsibility for the attack on the military base.”
The attack occurred within the framework of the Iraqi paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces, many of whom have opposed the new Syrian government despite having previously backed the Assad regime and fought in Syria during the civil war. Sipan Hemo, the recently appointed Syrian deputy defense minister for part of eastern Syria, publicly condemned the attacks.
Iraqi Response
Iraqi authorities responded swiftly to the cross-border attack, arresting four suspects they claimed were behind Monday's rocket strike on a Syrian base. The Iraqi prime minister's office confirmed the arrests on Tuesday, March 26, according to Al Arabiya English reporting. Iraqi security sources disclosed that the rockets were launched from the Iraqi town of Rabi'a toward the northeastern Syrian base.
Iraqi forces conducted a search of the area to identify those responsible for the attack, with coordination established between Syrian and Iraqi military officials. The arrests represented a significant development in the ongoing tensions between Iraqi armed factions and both Syrian and American forces in the region, though Baghdad had not issued any official comment as of 2020GMT on the incident.
Broader Context
The rocket attack occurred within the broader context of the US-Israeli war on Iran and ongoing military operations in the region. According to Al-Jazeera Net, the attacks were part of a pattern by Iraqi armed factions affiliated with what is known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which have been carrying out drone and rocket attacks on American bases in response to airstrikes hitting sites in Iraq.
“In response to the airstrikes hitting sites in Iraq amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, Iraqi armed factions—affiliated with what is known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq—are carrying out drone and rocket attacks on American bases in the country.”
The incident highlights the complex web of alliances and conflicts in the region, particularly involving Iranian-backed militias, Iraqi paramilitary forces, Syrian government troops, and American military presence. The attack near Al-Yarubiyah represents one of hundreds of similar incidents that have characterized the volatile security situation in northeastern Syria and western Iraq over the past decade.