U.S. Personnel Injured in Attack on Iraqi Air Base, Militants Suspected
U.S. personnel and an Iraqi security force member sustained injuries in an attack on Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base over the weekend, according to an anonymous U.S. official. The official stated that the base was initially believed to have been targeted by ballistic missiles but did not rule out the possibility of rockets. The incident is currently under assessment.
Multiple security and government sources in Iraq reported that the base was struck by rockets launched from within the country. Another U.S. official revealed that the attack was carried out by militants operating from Iraq. These assaults are part of a broader pattern, with Iran-backed militants launching numerous attacks against U.S. military assets in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October. These assaults typically involve a combination of rockets and one-way attack drones.
The militants behind these attacks aim to retaliate against the United States for its support of Israel in its conflict with Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas. Currently, the U.S. has around 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, deployed to advise and assist local forces in countering the resurgence of the Islamic State, which previously seized significant territories in both countries before its defeat in 2014.
The situation in Iraq is increasingly concerning, as the country fears being caught in the crossfire between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Despite claims of plans to withdraw U.S. troops, the Pentagon has not received any formal notification regarding the end of their presence in Iraq. The U.S. military asserts that its troops are stationed in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government.
In a separate incident, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, claiming to target an Israeli spy headquarters. However, these claims have been denied by Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdish officials.
U.S. personnel and an Iraqi security force member were injured in an attack on Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base. Initial reports suggest the base was hit by ballistic missiles or rockets. The attack was carried out by militants from inside Iraq, believed to be Iran-backed. This comes amidst ongoing attacks on the U.S. military in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed militants. The U.S. has troops in Iraq and Syria to assist local forces against the resurgence of the Islamic State. Iraq is concerned about being caught in the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The Pentagon has not been formally notified of any plans to end the U.S. troop presence in Iraq. Iran also recently attacked Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
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