On Monday, August 5, a rocket attack on the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq resulted in injuries to several U.S. personnel, according to officials. This incident comes amid escalating regional tensions, particularly related to fears of an Iranian retaliation against Israel.
The rocket assault, targeting the base that hosts American troops and members of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, is the latest in a series of such attacks. A U.S. defense spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, “There was a suspected rocket attack today against U.S. and coalition forces at the base. Initial indications are that several U.S. personnel were injured.” The spokesperson also noted that base personnel are conducting a damage assessment and that further updates will be provided as they become available.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the attack, with the White House stating, “They discussed the steps we are taking to defend our forces and respond to any attack against our personnel in a manner and place of our choosing.”
An Iraqi military source reported that multiple rockets were fired at the base, with some landing inside and others hitting a nearby village without causing damage. A commander from a pro-Iran armed group claimed that at least two rockets targeted the base, although the identity of the attackers was not specified.
This attack follows a recent U.S. strike on combatants attempting to launch drones at American and allied troops, which resulted in four deaths, according to Iraqi sources. This was the first U.S. strike in Iraq since February.
There have been two other recent attacks on bases hosting U.S. and allied forces in Iraq on July 16 and July 25. Prior to these, U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria had not been targeted since April. During the initial months of the Israel-Hamas conflict, however, U.S. bases were hit more than 175 times, mostly by pro-Iranian groups expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an alliance of pro-Iran factions, has claimed responsibility for many of these attacks. In January, a drone strike attributed to these groups resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers at a base in Jordan, leading to numerous retaliatory strikes by U.S. forces against Tehran-backed fighters in Iraq and Syria.
In response to rising tensions, Baghdad has been engaging in discussions with Washington regarding the future of the U.S.-led coalition’s mission in Iraq, amid demands from Iran-backed groups for a withdrawal of U.S. forces. The U.S. military currently has approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria.
