Rocket Attack Against Military Base In Iraq Injured ‘Several’ US Personnel, Officials Say

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq-1st Lt. Chris "Harpoon" Laird (in A-10 on the left) and Maj. Robert "Notch" MacGregor taxi out for takeoff on a combat mission over Iraq. The A-10 pilots belong to the 438th Air Expeditionary Group activated here Jan. 15, 2007, to provide close air support for Coalition Forces in the region. Within hours of standing up as a fully operational combat flying unit, the group was launching its fierce 'Warthogs' into battle. Since activating, the group has flown some 2,648 flying hours on 820 combat sorties providing CAS in some of the most challenging urban terrain in Iraq including Fallujah, Ramadi, Baghdad and Baquba, overcoming communications jams inherent in operations there, and remaining focused, vigilant and effective against a determined enemy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ken Hall)

A suspected rocket attack against a military base in Iraq left “several” U.S. personnel injured on Monday, two U.S. defense officials confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The attack hit the Al Asad airbase in Iraq — a military base hosting U.S. and coalition troops — and a post-incident assessment is now being carried out to determine the extent of the damage, one defense official told the DCNF, noting that further information would be made available as it was gathered. U.S. forces across the Middle East have come under fire in recent months from various terrorist organizations scattered throughout the region.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many personnel were injured or whether casualties were involved. It also wasn’t immediately clear who was responsible for the attack.

“We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack today against U.S. and Coalition forces at Al Asad Airbase, Iraq. Initial indications are that several U.S. personnel were injured,” a Pentagon spokesperson told the DCNF. “Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.”

The U.S. staged a strike in Iraq last week against targets that officials believed were preparing for a drone attack and posed an imminent threat to personnel, according to Reuters. Attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and the broader Middle East region have been frequent since Oct. 7, the day Hamas invaded Israel and sparked a regional war.

Three U.S. troops were previously killed in a drone attack against a coalition military base in Jordan in January, the only recorded incident of personnel deaths in the Middle East since Oct. 7.

The attack against the Al Asad base comes as Iran and Hezbollah are expected to launch retaliatory strikes against Israel in the coming days. Israel launched airstrikes against high-level Hezbollah and Hamas targets in Lebanon and Iran last week, prompting vows of revenge from the terrorist groups.

The U.S. has recently made posture changes to its military forces in the Middle East region in preparation for a possible attack.

Jake Smith

August 5, 2024

Featured Image Credit: United States Air Force photo by Capt. Ken Hall