The Syrian army’s Operations Command said on Monday, March 23, that a military base near the town of al-Yarubiyah (in al-Hasakah governorate, northeastern Syria) came under a rocket attack.
In statements to the state-run al-Ikhbariya, the Command said the attack was carried out using five rockets launched from near Tal al-Hawa village, about 20 km inside Iraqi territory.
It added that the Syrian side contacted Iraq to coordinate over the incident, noting that the Iraqi army confirmed it had begun search operations to find those responsible.
The Command stressed that “the Syrian army is on full alert and will carry out its responsibilities to defend Syrian territory and confront any attack.”
Assistant Defense Minister for the eastern region, Sipan Hamo condemned the attack targeting the “Khirab al-Jir” base in eastern Syria, confirming it was carried out with rockets launched from Iraqi territory.
Hamo held Iraqi authorities fully responsible for the incident, considering it a result of their inability to control their territory and prevent it from being used to launch attacks threatening Syrian security.
He added that the attack caused material losses without casualties among the armed forces, calling on Iraq to assume its responsibilities immediately and take firm measures to prevent such violations from recurring.
Rockets launched from western Mosul
Two Iraqi security sources said that at least seven rockets were launched from the Rabia area in Iraq toward a US military base in northeastern Syria on Monday, marking the first such attack since the start of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
The sources told Reuters that a rocket launcher was found in the Rabia area west of Mosul, along with a burned vehicle used to launch the seven rockets toward Syria.
In a related development, Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria) reported that Syrian intelligence arrested a cell affiliated with Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces in the province.
According to the correspondent, citing a source in Syrian intelligence, the six-member cell was active in transferring information and smuggling weapons, without providing further details.
In recent weeks, rhetoric from some members and leaders of the Popular Mobilization Forces has escalated, with sharp statements directed at Syria’s new authorities, which have maintained a neutral stance regarding the Israeli-Iranian escalation. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government has avoided officially adopting this position.
Military movements and political talks
The escalation was preceded by Syrian military movements along the border with Iraq aimed at securing it, alongside intensive political contacts conducted by President Ahmed al-Sharaa with regional leaders, including the Iraqi president, to contain the repercussions of the war.
Al-Sharaa and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani discussed regional developments, particularly the escalation between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, and its impact on regional security and stability.
Both sides stressed the importance of enhancing joint security coordination and prioritizing dialogue and political solutions, highlighting the deep fraternal ties between Syria and Iraq and their commitment to continued consultation and coordination in a way that serves mutual interests and supports regional stability.
In recent weeks, Iraqi factions known for their loyalty to Iran announced their involvement in the ongoing military confrontation in the region between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.
These groups have targeted sites inside Iraq and in the Kurdistan Region under the pretext of striking US interests in the region.
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