Suspected rocket attack hits US Ain al-Asad base in Iraq
- Suspected rocket attack on Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq
- Several U.S. personnel were injured, extent unknown
- Postattack damage assessment underway
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(NewsNation) — A suspected rocket attack has struck Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq, where U.S. and coalition forces are stationed. The incident has resulted in injuries to several U.S. personnel, a Department of Defense spokesperson confirmed to NewsNation Monday.
“Initial indications are that several U.S. personnel were injured,” the spokesperson said. The full extent of the injuries and the exact number of affected personnel remain unclear at this time.
Military officials at the base are conducting a damage assessment following the attack to determine the scope of the incident and any potential structural damage to the facility.
A White House official confirmed President Joe Biden was briefed on the attack.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris discussed steps to “defend our forces and respond to any attack against our personnel in a manner and place of our choosing,” per a press note.
Earlier Monday, Iraqi security officials confirmed the attack, but no group has claimed responsibility.
The attack comes as tensions across the Middle East are spiking following the killings last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran, in suspected Israeli strikes. Both groups are backed by Iran.
In recent weeks, Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have resumed launching attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria after a lull of several months after a strike on a base in Jordan killed three American soldiers in late January, prompting a series of retaliatory U.S. strikes.
From October throughd January, an umbrella group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq had regularly claimed attacks it said were in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel in the war in Gaza and were aimed at pushing U.S. troops out of the region.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant regarding the attack to “reiterate unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security in the face of threats.”
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement that Austin provided an update on measures to strengthen U.S. military posture in the region in light of the escalating situation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
