five-soldiers-injured-as-us-base-attacked-in-iraq

At least five US personnel were injured in an attack on a military base in Iraq on Monday, according to US officials.

 

The incident occurred even as the Middle East braced for a potential surge in attacks by Iran and its allies following the recent killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

 

Two Katyusha rockets were fired at al Asad airbase in western Iraq, according to two Iraqi security sources. One source confirmed the rockets landed inside the base.  It remains unclear if the attack is linked to Iran's threats of retaliation over the killing of a Hamas leader.

 

US officials, speaking to reporters, said that one of the injured Americans suffered critical injuries.  They emphasised that the casualty count was based on initial reports and was likely to change. "Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," one official stated.

 

Last week, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, drawing threats of revenge from Iran, which blamed Israel for the killing. 

 

Israel has not claimed responsibility. Additionally, Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, was killed by an Israeli strike in Beirut, further escalating concerns that the conflict in Gaza could spread across the Middle East.

 

Iran has accused the US of being responsible for Haniyeh's assassination due to its support for Israel. 

 

In a recent call, US Secretary of Defensc Lloyd Austin and Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant agreed that the attack represented "a dangerous escalation," according to a Pentagon readout.

 

Last week, the US conducted a strike in Iraq against individuals deemed militants preparing to launch drones and posing a threat to US and coalition forces. 

 

The US is monitoring Iran's potential response to Haniyeh's killing, part of a series of targeted killings amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

 

The Pentagon has announced plans to deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster defence in response to threats from Iran and its allies. 

 

Iraq has requested that troops from the US-led military coalition begin withdrawing in September, with plans to formally end the coalition's mission by September 2025. Some US forces are expected to remain in an advisory capacity under a new agreement.

 

US Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, head of US Central Command, is currently in the Middle East. A US official stated that Kurilla is coordinating with allies to ensure preparedness in case of an Iranian attack against Israel.