Several US military personnel sustained injuries on Monday in a suspected rocket strike on an Iraqi military base, according to US defense officials.
The strike occurs amidst escalating tensions throughout the Middle East, following the recent assassinations of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and the top political leader of Hamas in Iran last week.
The Ain al-Assad base, situated in western Iraq, has been the target of a recent spate of rocket attacks, this base is home to American troops and personnel from the US-led coalition fighting against the Islamic State jihadist group.
The attack on al-Asad air base in Iraq was confirmed by Iraqi security officials, but no group has claimed responsibility. US defense officials stated that the troops stationed at the base are currently evaluating the extent of the damage caused by the attack.
“There was a suspected rocket attack today against US and coalition forces” at the base, a US defense spokesperson said. “Initial indications are that several US personnel were injured.”
“Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment” and updates will be provided as more information becomes available, the spokesperson added.
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have recently renewed their assaults on US military bases in Iraq and Syria after a period of several months.
The attacks resumed following a strike on a base in Jordan in late January, which resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers and triggered a series of retaliatory strikes by American forces.
From October to January, a coalition known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq had consistently claimed responsibility for attacks, stating that they were carried out in response to “Washington’s support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza” and with the goal of forcing American troops to withdraw from the region.
(With inputs from agencies)
The strike occurs amidst escalating tensions throughout the Middle East, following the recent assassinations of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and the top political leader of Hamas in Iran last week.
The Ain al-Assad base, situated in western Iraq, has been the target of a recent spate of rocket attacks, this base is home to American troops and personnel from the US-led coalition fighting against the Islamic State jihadist group.
The attack on al-Asad air base in Iraq was confirmed by Iraqi security officials, but no group has claimed responsibility. US defense officials stated that the troops stationed at the base are currently evaluating the extent of the damage caused by the attack.
“There was a suspected rocket attack today against US and coalition forces” at the base, a US defense spokesperson said. “Initial indications are that several US personnel were injured.”
“Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment” and updates will be provided as more information becomes available, the spokesperson added.
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have recently renewed their assaults on US military bases in Iraq and Syria after a period of several months.
The attacks resumed following a strike on a base in Jordan in late January, which resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers and triggered a series of retaliatory strikes by American forces.
From October to January, a coalition known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq had consistently claimed responsibility for attacks, stating that they were carried out in response to “Washington’s support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza” and with the goal of forcing American troops to withdraw from the region.
(With inputs from agencies)
Source : Times of India
