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7 US personnel injured in attack on Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq

The flags of Iraq and the United States are placed on the table during a meeting with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets and Iraqi Defense Minister Muhammad Al-Abbasi at the Pentagon, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

(NewsNation) — Five U.S. service members and two U.S. contractors were injured Monday in a suspected rocket attack on the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq, a U.S. defense official said. 

Five of the injured personnel are receiving care at the base, and two have been evacuated for further care. All seven are in stable condition. 


On Monday, two rockets impacted the base at approximately 2 p.m. ET. U.S. defense officials said troops at the base are still assessing injuries and damage, and Iraqi security officials have confirmed the attack. 

The attack comes as tensions across the Middle East are spiking following the killings last week of a senior Hezbollah commander and Hamas’ top political leader in suspected Israeli strikes. 

The American officials said the U.S. looked into reports of a possible second attack at the base but determined there had not been another. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. 

NewsNation Senior White House Producer Tanya Noury and The Associated Press contributed to this report.