Two Katyusha rockets that were fired at the Ain al-Assad airbase in western Iraq this Monday morning left several US troops badly injured, Reuters reported.
According to a report by the Reuters news agency, the American Ain al-Assad airbase in western Iraq was targeted this Monday morning by two Katyusha rockets. A US defense official later confirmed that as a result of the attack, several US personnel were injured, some of whom are currently under critical condition.
“We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack today against US and Coalition forces at Ain al-Assad Airbase, Iraq,” the official said, adding that “Initial indications are that several US personnel were injured. Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment.”
Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the US official also said one of the wounded Americans was seriously injured, and that the casualty count was based on initial reports which could still change.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but the US Defense Department blamed Iran-aligned militia groups as responsible for the move, describing it as a “dangerous escalation”. Last week, the US carried out a strike in Iraq against individuals that Washington believed were militants getting ready to launch drones and posed a threat to US and coalition forces. Ut the reason for the attack on Monday can go beyond this.
Following the assassination of Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, the US began sending additional military forces to the Middle East in anticipation of retaliatory attacks bn and Hezbollah against Israel. Iran believes that Israel carried out the assassination attack against Haniyeh, but has also said the United States bears responsibility for Haniyeh’s assassination because of its support for Israel.
Between October 17 and January 29, there were more than 150 attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria, for most of which the US has blamed Iran as responsible. Iraq currently hosts nearly 2,500 American troops and has also Iran-backed militias linked to its security forces in its soil. This has caused indirect tit-for-tat military acts between Tehran and Washington in recent years.
