The U.S. military is watching with concern the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles against sensitive targets, including that of the CIA. It is estimated that the drone strikes are being carried out by small militias directly subordinate to Tehran, and the defense systems are having difficulty intercepting them. "The attacks will intensify as Iran's economic suffocation intensifies."

Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have developed their capabilities and are using more advanced weapons, including armed UAVs, to hit sensitive U.S. targets, the New York Times reported, following an escalation of attacks in recent months, one of which was targeted this morning (Sunday) against Ein al-Assad base in the west of the country.

According to the Iraqi army, air defense systems intercepted two armed UAVs that attacked the base where US forces are stationed.

According to U.S. officials who spoke with the New York Times before the latest attack, at least three times in the past two months, the militias have attacked Iraqi bases where CIA personnel and special forces fighters are stationed. They used small suicide bombers, which according to American and Iraqi sources were designed by Iran to cause minimal losses and thus avoid an American response during the nuclear talks in Vienna.