Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Officials said on August 6, 2024 that an Iraqi military base was hit by a rocket attack, injuring US military personnel
Source: Google Earth
An attack on an Iraqi military base on Monday wounded at least five U.S. personnel, U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Middle East braces for a possible new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following the killing of a senior militant last week. . Hamas and Hezbollah groups.
Two Iraqi security sources said two Katyusha rockets struck Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq. An Iraqi security source said the rockets fell into the base. It was unclear whether the attack was related to Iran’s threat to retaliate for the killings.
Iran said on Wednesday the United States was responsible for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran because of its support for Israel.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that one of the injured Americans was in serious condition. They said the casualty toll was based on preliminary reports but could still change.
An official added: “Base personnel are conducting damage assessment following the attack.”
Last week, the United States carried out strikes in Iraq against individuals whom U.S. officials said were militants preparing to launch drones and posing a threat to U.S. and coalition forces.
The United States has been watching to see whether Iran will live up to its vows in response to the killing of Haniyah in Tehran two days ago, one of a series of killings of senior Palestinian militant figures during the war between Israel and Hamas. Gaza is angry.
The Pentagon said it would deploy more fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to bolster defenses amid threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iraq is a rare ally of the United States and Iran, with 2,500 American troops and Iranian-backed militias linked to its security forces. Tit-for-tat attacks have escalated since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October.
Iraqi sources said that Iraq hopes that the US-led coalition forces will begin to withdraw troops in September and officially end the coalition’s work in September 2025. Some US troops may still retain advisory status in the new negotiations.
Baghdad has been struggling since Oct. 7 to rein in Iranian-backed armed groups that have carried out dozens of attacks on U.S. forces in Baghdad and neighboring Syria.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday.
An Iraqi official said Blinken asked Sultani to help ease regional tensions by convincing Iran to moderate its response to last week’s Israeli attack in Tehran that killed the leader of Hamas.
U.S. Army Gen. Michael “Eric” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, is currently in the Middle East. A U.S. official said Kurila was in talks with allies to ensure coordination in the event of an Iranian attack on Israel.
