BREAKING: Many Causalities As
Rocket Attack Military Base
Several United States personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack at a military base in Iraq on Monday, according to U.S. defense officials.
The incident marks a concerning increase in strikes targeting American forces, believed to be carried out by Iranian-backed militias.
AP reports that tensions are escalating across the Middle East after the suspected Israeli strikes last week, which killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Both groups receive backing from Iran.
U.S. defense officials stated that troops at al-Asad air base are currently assessing injuries and damage from the attack, with preliminary reports indicating that up to seven military personnel and civilians may have been injured.
Iraqi security officials confirmed the attack earlier on Monday, although no group has claimed responsibility yet.
American officials also investigated reports of a possible second attack on the base but found no evidence of another incident. These officials spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of military operations.
However, the White House confirmed that both the president and vice president have been briefed on the situation.
In recent weeks, Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have resumed attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, following a period of relative calm. This resurgence began after a January attack on a base in Jordan that killed three American soldiers, prompting several U.S. retaliatory strikes.
Meanwhile, from October to January, a group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq regularly claimed responsibility for attacks, stating they were retaliating against U.S. support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza and aimed to drive U.S. troops out of the region.
