Several American troops were injured late Monday when a rocket attack targeted the Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq’s western desert, according to US defense officials. The base, which has frequently been the target of attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups, was hit by at least two rockets that landed within its perimeter.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the recent killing of key leaders tied to Hamas and Hezbollah.This latest assault adds to a series of attacks on US military positions in Iraq and Syria over the past month, including a recent incident at a small US base in eastern Syria.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least five individuals were wounded in the attack, including both US troops and contractors. While no group has yet claimed responsibility, the strike bears the hallmarks of previous operations by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, whose goal is to force the withdrawal of US forces from the region.
Regional tensions escalate
The attack on Ain al-Asad Air Base occurred against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions. Last week, a Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran, and Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukur was killed in Beirut. Israel has acknowledged responsibility for the assassination of Shukur but has remained silent on Haniyeh’s death. In response, Iran has vowed retaliation through its proxy forces, including Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militant groups in Iraq.
While it remains unclear whether this latest rocket attack was part of a broader Iranian response or a continuation of ongoing militia efforts, it underscores the volatile situation in the region. The US military has been on high alert, anticipating potential reprisals similar to the April attack by Iran on Israel following the killing of senior Iranian military figures by Israeli forces.
US response and ongoing negotiations
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the incident and are considering potential responses. A statement from the administration emphasized that any retaliatory action would be carried out “in a manner and place of our choosing.”
The attack has also highlighted ongoing negotiations between US and Iraqi officials over the future of American military presence in the country. While some factions within the Iraqi government, particularly those aligned with Iran, are pushing for a swift US withdrawal, others, including many Iraqi defense officials, favor a continued albeit reduced US involvement to maintain stability.
Currently, approximately 2,500 US troops are stationed in Iraq, with an additional 900 in Syria, where the resurgence of the Islamic State group remains a concern.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the recent killing of key leaders tied to Hamas and Hezbollah.This latest assault adds to a series of attacks on US military positions in Iraq and Syria over the past month, including a recent incident at a small US base in eastern Syria.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least five individuals were wounded in the attack, including both US troops and contractors. While no group has yet claimed responsibility, the strike bears the hallmarks of previous operations by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, whose goal is to force the withdrawal of US forces from the region.
Regional tensions escalate
The attack on Ain al-Asad Air Base occurred against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions. Last week, a Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran, and Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukur was killed in Beirut. Israel has acknowledged responsibility for the assassination of Shukur but has remained silent on Haniyeh’s death. In response, Iran has vowed retaliation through its proxy forces, including Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militant groups in Iraq.
While it remains unclear whether this latest rocket attack was part of a broader Iranian response or a continuation of ongoing militia efforts, it underscores the volatile situation in the region. The US military has been on high alert, anticipating potential reprisals similar to the April attack by Iran on Israel following the killing of senior Iranian military figures by Israeli forces.
US response and ongoing negotiations
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the incident and are considering potential responses. A statement from the administration emphasized that any retaliatory action would be carried out “in a manner and place of our choosing.”
The attack has also highlighted ongoing negotiations between US and Iraqi officials over the future of American military presence in the country. While some factions within the Iraqi government, particularly those aligned with Iran, are pushing for a swift US withdrawal, others, including many Iraqi defense officials, favor a continued albeit reduced US involvement to maintain stability.
Currently, approximately 2,500 US troops are stationed in Iraq, with an additional 900 in Syria, where the resurgence of the Islamic State group remains a concern.