Iran’s War on Americans: Decades-Old Campaign Against U.S. Troops in Iraq
The conflict between Iran and the United States has been ongoing for decades, with reports of Iranian-backed proxy forces targeting American troops in Iraq dating back to 2005. A recent court case involving three veterans, including Staff Sgt. Robert Bartlett and Capt. Shawn English, highlights the long-running campaign against U.S. personnel.
The first reported incident occurred on May 3, 2005, when an explosively formed penetrator tore through a U.S. Army vehicle in Baghdad, killing Staff Sgt. William Brooks and injuring two other soldiers. The weapon was later identified as part of Iran’s broader effort to arm militias attacking American forces in Iraq.
Since then, numerous incidents have been reported involving Iranian-supplied weapons used against U.S. personnel. In 2006, Capt. Shawn English was killed by an explosively formed penetrator while serving on a military transition team working with Iraqi forces. Maj. Stuart Wolfer was also killed when a rocket struck a gym inside a U.S. base in Baghdad’s International Zone on April 6, 2008.
Federal court findings have established that Iran manufactured or supplied the weapons used in these attacks and trained or directed the assailants. In cases involving hundreds of U.S. victims, judges found that Iranian forces were responsible for providing materials support to proxy groups responsible for attacks on American troops.
The impact of this campaign extends beyond individual incidents. The families of those killed have suffered significant emotional trauma, with some reporting feelings of grief and loss that persist even 18 years after the incident. For example, Tricia English’s husband was aware of the threat posed by explosively formed penetrators before his death in 2006.
The U.S. military has taken steps to address this issue, including implementing new security protocols for armored vehicles and increasing training on EFP detection techniques. However, experts argue that more needs to be done to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Iran’s campaign against American troops in Iraq is a complex and multifaceted issue, with various factors contributing to its persistence. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant human suffering and loss of life for both sides. As one veteran notes, “It cut me in half from my temple down through my jaw, and then took my gunner’s legs off, and then took the top of my truck commander’s head off.”
The legacy of this campaign continues to shape the relationships between Iran and the United States, with many Americans expressing concerns about Iranian intentions. As one veteran’s sister notes, “For many of us, the past 18 years has been one long continuous war.”
Based on reporting from Fox News World.
