On Wednesday, October 18, AP reported that two drones targeted the al Asad airbase in western Iraq used by U.S. forces, and another drone hit a northern Iraqi base. All three drones were intercepted; two were destroyed, and one was damaged, resulting in minor injuries among coalition forces at the western base, according to U.S. Central Command. These attacks were claimed by the Iranian-backed militia group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which threatened further actions against the "American occupation." This situation occurs amid escalating regional tension and concerns of a broader conflict following the recent Hamas-Israel war. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have expressed intentions to target U.S. facilities due to American support for Israel. In the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, an intercepted drone crashed near the village of Batas. Furthermore, Iran-aligned groups in Iraq have announced the formation of a "joint operations room" to support Hamas in its conflict with Israel. While Iraqi groups allied with Iran and Hamas may not immediately open a new front in the ongoing war, they remain prepared to respond if the conflict escalates or continues. Throughout the week there have been additional drone and missile attacks against US forces in the region.

On Thursday, October 19, President Biden addressed the nation on the issues of Ukraine, Israel, and the need for additional funding for defense - including missile defense. Within the $106 Billion supplemental which the administration is sending to Congress is $1.2 Billion for directed-energy upgrades to Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. After the massive barrage on October 7th, and in subsequent missile attacks from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other groups it has become clear that the Iron Dome can be overwhelmed by the mass of an incoming attack at times. These funds are meant to accelerate and support the already on-going development of a direct-energy compliment to the kinetic defenses of the Iron Dome, with the aim of creating a system more resilient in the fact of massive wave attacks from adversaries.

On Saturday, October 21, it was reported that the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense had submitted plans to deploy indigenous Sky Bow-III missiles to counter PLAAF warplanes at 12 new military bases due to increased intrusions into its Air Defense Identification Zone. According to Liberty Times, this move is driven by the need to confront China's threat and bolster missile production. The Sky Bow-III is designed to tackle medium- and long-range aerial threats, functioning independently or in groups. It is part of the Tien Kung/Sky Bow series of surface-to-air missiles, with successful testing against various targets. The deployment aligns with Taiwan's focus on enhancing its defense capabilities in the face of growing tensions with China. As stated by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense, "The continuous military harassment by the Communist military can easily lead to a sharp increase in tensions and worsen regional security." These plans also included preparations to construct six new military bases with air and missile defense systems between 2022 and 2025.

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