“Several” Americans were injured in a suspected rocket attack on a military base in Iraq on Monday, two U.S. defense officials confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The attack struck Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, which hosts U.S. and coalition forces, and an assessment is currently underway to determine the extent of the damage, a defense official told DCNF, adding that more information would be released as it becomes available. U.S. forces across the Middle East have come under attack in recent months from a variety of terrorist groups across the region. (Related: Pentagon struggles to determine which soldiers' families are eligible for Gold Star status)
It was not immediately clear how many people were injured or if there were any casualties, nor was it immediately clear who was responsible for the attack.
“We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack on U.S. and coalition forces at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq today. Initial indications are that several U.S. military personnel may have been injured,” a Pentagon spokesperson told DCNF. “Base personnel are assessing the damage following the attack and will provide an update as more information becomes available.”
US military members walk in front of a drone at Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq's western Anbar province in a photo taken during a press tour organized by the US-led coalition battling remnants of the Islamic State on January 13, 2020. (Photo by AYMAN HENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
The U.S. carried out strikes in Iraq last week against targets that officials believe were preparing for drone attacks and posed an imminent threat to personnel. according to According to Reuters, there have been frequent attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and the Middle East since Oct. 7, when Hamas invaded Israel and sparked a regional war.
Three U.S. soldiers were killed in a drone strike on a coalition base in Jordan in January, the only recorded fatality in the Middle East since October 7.
The attack on Al-Assad base was carried out by Iran and Hezbollah Be expected It plans to launch retaliatory attacks against Israel in the coming days. Israel launched airstrikes last week against senior Hezbollah and Hamas positions in Lebanon and Iran, prompting the terror groups to vow revenge.
The United States recently change It has deployed troops to its military bases in the Middle East to prepare for possible attacks.
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