“Ashab al-Kahf” (A.K.- Companions of the Cave) carried out IED attacks on US-led coalition convoys of supplies and logistics. The first convoy was targeted in al-Diwaniyah province; the second was attacked while passing through al-Muthanna province. Another attack occurred in Babylon Province. On Saturday (September 4), Ashab al-Kahf announced the beginning of a new round of armed attacks against U.S. interests dubbed ‘Karbala operation.’
Ashab al-Kahf disseminated a video of an improvised explosive device (IED) attack against a United States Army convoy as proof of an earlier claim of responsibility for an attack.
The US-led coalition denies any involvement in the convoys attacked in Iraq and confirmed, these attacks were aimed at convoys transporting military aid to the Iraqi army and security forces. But the videos show that the attacks are aimed at combat vehicles and equipment of the U.S. military.
The Iraqi resistance groups against the US-led coalition are not limited to attacks on supply convoys. They recently intensified drone and rocket attacks against other coalition assets and bases throughout Iraq.
On August 10, 2020, Ashab al-Kahf distributed a video of an improvised explosive device (IED) attack and claimed to have destroyed United States Army vehicles on the Jraischan border crossing and at least one rocket attack on the U.S. embassy (November 17, 2020).
On February 15, 2021, A.K. claimed rocket attacks on Turkish forces in northern Iraq.
Note: “Ashab al-Kahf” (A.K.) first appeared in August 2019 and has been active ever since. A.K. is believed to be an affiliate of Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), and its leader Qais al-Khazali insists that it is decisively opposed to any compromise with the U.S. or with any form of continued U.S. military forces presence on Iraqi soil–regardless of whether their stated purpose is including to combat the spread of ISIS.
