Kyiv tries to break Russian lines as US battles Tehran’s proxies in Iraq

(Originally published Nov. 27 in “What in the World“) The war in the Middle East has now spread from Israel and Syria to Iraq.

After militias fired missiles at al-Asad air base, injuring several American troops, the U.S. responded with a U.S. AC-130 gunship, which locals know as “the angel of death” and to Vietnam-era soldiers as “Puff the magic dragon.” It then launched two separate attacks against militias in Iraq.

The militias have now reportedly launched at least 70 separate attacks against U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq since Oct. 17, including four last Thursday alone. But U.S. retaliation has until now been limited to targets in Syria.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has deployed older Leopard 1A5 tanks to the front line in its attempt to break Russia’s defensive lines and regain territory before winter sets in. Both sides have been launching waves of drone attacks against each other.