A number of American troopers have sustained accidents in a rocket assault on Ayn Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq, Reuters has reported, citing US officers. Nobody has claimed duty for the strike.
Two explosions have been heard at Al-Asad, situated west of Baghdad, native media reported on Monday night, citing eyewitnesses. In accordance with these stories, the US forces engaged the incoming missiles with C-RAM air defenses.
Stories of casualties got here from three nameless US officers who spoke with Reuters.
In accordance with one report, a launcher for Arash-1 missiles was found close to the US base after the barrage. The Arash is an Iranian copy of the Soviet-designed BM-21 Grad a number of rocket launch system.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been already within the White Home State of affairs Room when the rocket assault occurred, in response to American media. Each the US and Israel have been anticipating a strike by Iran, in reprisal for final week’s assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has not formally claimed duty for the bombing that killed Haniyeh.
In April, Tehran fired a salvo of missiles and drones at Israel, following an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that killed a number of high-ranking officers. The Iranian authorities has as soon as once more claimed the authorized proper to retaliate, citing Article 51 of the UN Constitution, and has reportedly warned Israel of the approaching assault through Hungary.
Al-Asad has come underneath sporadic fireplace by Iraqi Shia militias prior to now. It was additionally attacked by Iranian ballistic missiles in January 2020, following the American drone assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Normal Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
Whereas the US initially stated the assault solely brought about property harm, it was later confirmed that dozens of troops on the base sustained “traumatic mind accidents,” or concussions.
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