CNN
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A number of US personnel had been injured in a suspected rocket assault Monday in opposition to US and coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq, a US protection official mentioned.
“We are able to affirm that there was a suspected rocket assault right now in opposition to US and Coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq,” the official mentioned. “Preliminary indications are that a number of US personnel had been injured. Base personnel are conducting a post-attack injury evaluation.”
The US Protection Division late Monday blamed Iran-aligned militia teams for the assault, calling it a “harmful escalation.”
A Pentagon readout of a name between US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant mentioned the 2 males “agreed that right now’s Iran-aligned militia assault on U.S. forces stationed at Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq marked a harmful escalation and demonstrated Iran’s destabilizing function within the area.”
Austin reiterated to Gallant “unwavering U.S. dedication to Israel’s safety within the face of threats from Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and different Iran-aligned militia teams,” in response to the readout.
A car carrying rockets was intercepted by the Iraqi navy Monday after the assault. The Iraqi navy mentioned in an announcement that two rockets had been launched from the car within the Haditha district, with eight extra being ready for launch.
The assertion added that the perpetrators of the assault are at present being pursued and that leaders, commanders and officers accountable for the “safety breaches within the space” will probably be held accountable.
The assault comes amid extraordinarily excessive tensions within the Center East, because the US has been bracing for Iranian retaliation in opposition to Israel over the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran final week. Israel has not commented on the killing of Haniyeh. Hezbollah in Lebanon has additionally vowed retaliation on Israel after the assassination of one in every of its high commanders in Beirut lower than a day earlier than Haniyeh’s killing.
It additionally comes simply days after Austin ordered additional military assets to the area, sending a provider strike group, a fighter squadron and extra warships to the Center East.
US officers have lengthy blamed assaults on troops in Iraq and Syria on Iran-backed militia teams.
Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh mentioned final month after a drone assault on Al-Asad that it was “almost certainly” carried out by Iranian-supported teams.
“We all know that these are IRGC-backed militias which have launched these assaults on US forces up to now. Almost definitely than not, it’s a kind of affiliate teams,” Singh mentioned on July 18.
Between October 17 and January 29, there have been greater than 150 assaults on US personnel in Iraq and Syria. These assaults slowed after three American troops had been killed in a drone assault on a small US outpost in Jordan, leading to a significant US response that hit 85 targets at seven totally different areas.
“The US doesn’t search battle within the Center East or anyplace else on the earth,” President Joe Biden said at the time. “However let all those that may search to do us hurt know this: In the event you hurt an American, we’ll reply.”
This story has been up to date with further developments.