TEL AVIV, Oct 18 (Reuters) – The U.S. army thwarted an assault concentrated on its forces in Iraq early on Wednesday, intercepting two drones prior to they may strike, two U.S. officers informed Reuters.The officers, who spoke on situation of anonymity, declined to mention who was once suspected of the assault but it surely got here as Washington is on heightened alert for task by way of Iran-backed teams amid hovering pressure within the area over the Israel-Hamas warfare.The only-way assault drones have been intercepted as they tried to strike Iraq’s al Asad air base, which hosts American troops, the officers stated.The incident got here hours after a strike on a Gaza sanatorium killed loads of Palestinians, elevating the stakes for U.S. President Joe Biden as he flies to Israel on Wednesday to sign toughen for its warfare towards Hamas.Israel blamed the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi sanatorium on a failed rocket release by way of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad crew, which denied accountability.Palestinian officers stated an Israeli air strike hit the sanatorium, with the Palestinian Authority’s well being minister accusing Israel of inflicting a “bloodbath”.In Iraq, pressure over the warfare in Gaza had already been top. Its most sensible Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, ultimate week condemned Israel and known as at the global to rise up to the “horrible brutality” in Gaza.Reporting by way of Phil Stewart; Enhancing by way of Clarence FernandezOur Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Consider Ideas. Gain Licensing Rights, opens new tab