According to a US defense official, a suspected rocket attack against US and coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq on Monday resulted in multiple injuries to US servicemen.
“We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack at Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq, today against US and Coalition forces,” the official stated. According to preliminary reports, multiple US servicemen suffered injuries. Employees at the base are evaluating the damage caused by the incident.
Late on Monday, the US Defense Department declared the incident to be a “dangerous escalation” and blamed Iran-aligned militia groups for it.
According to a Pentagon transcript, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the recent attack on US forces at Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq, which was carried out by militias aligned with Iran. They both agreed that the attack was a dangerous escalation and evidence of Iran’s destabilizing role in the region.
According to the readout, Austin reaffirmed to Gallant the “unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security in the face of threats from Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and other Iran-aligned militia groups.”
The incident occurs at a time when Middle East tensions are at an all-time high, with the US expecting reprisal from Iran against Israel over the last week’s killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has remained silent on Haniyeh’s death. Following the assassination of one of its top commanders in Beirut less than a day prior to Haniyeh’s death, Hezbollah in Lebanon has also promised to exact revenge on Israel.
It also occurs just a few days after Austin issued an order for more military hardware to be sent to the Middle East, including a fighter squadron, extra warships, and a carrier strike group.
US officials have long held militia groups supported by Iran responsible for attacks on US forces in Syria and Iraq.
Following a drone assault on Al-Asad last month, deputy press secretary for the Pentagon Sabrina Singh stated that it was “probably” done out by organizations with Iranian support.
We am aware that these militias have previously attacked US forces with support from the IRGC. Singh stated on July 18 that “it is most likely one of those affiliate groups.”
In Iraq and Syria, there were around 150 attacks on US forces between October 17 and January 29. Following the deaths of three US soldiers in a drone attack on a tiny US outpost in Jordan, those strikes ceased. The US responded with a massive strike that targeted 85 targets at seven distinct locations.
At the time, President Joe Biden declared, “The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world.” “But know this, everyone who may try to hurt us: If you hurt an American, we’ll get back to you.”
Add Comment