US acknowledges injuries to American soldiers in Iraqi base attack
Baghdad (Quds News Network)- Several US soldiers were injured on Monday in a rocket attack at Al Asad air base in Iraq, according to American defense officials. The extent of the injuries and the exact number of personnel affected remain unclear.
The incident occurred at the Al Asad air base, located in western Iraq’s Anbar province, which houses both American troops and other international forces. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to Newsweek, indicated that the attack is believed to have involved rockets. Security sources in Iraq confirmed that at least two Katyusha rockets were fired at the base.
A statement from the base mentioned that personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment. However, the Pentagon has yet to release an official statement regarding the details of the attack or the condition of the injured personnel.
This attack is the third of its kind since July 17, 2023, and it comes amid heightened regional tensions, especially following the Israeli attack on Gaza that started in October 2023. US forces in Iraq and Syria have been frequent targets of attacks.
The presence of the US military in Iraq has been a contentious issue since the 2003 American invasion. Although American combat troops officially withdrew in 2011, they returned in 2014 to allegedly assist in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
