US soldiers are finding more Iranian weaponry in Iraq than ever before, despite an apparent easing of tensions between Washington and Tehran, Reuters reports. Iran has vowed to stop funneling armor-piercing explosives into Iraq, and such attacks are down, but Iran is still exerting extensive influence in Iraq, a top US general says, and has 20 Revolutionary Guard “surrogates” operating there.
Since Iran’s promise, armor-piercing mortar attacks have dropped 59%, and the US has released nine Iranian prisoners. But the general said soldiers were finding more weapons with components traceable to Iran, including 46 ready and pointed at US bases. Yet he can’t be sure if more arms are actually entering Iraq, or simply if US troops have become better at finding them. (More Iran stories.)