A military base that houses US troops in Iraq has been attacked with rockets

At least 10 rockets landed early Wednesday on a base housing US troops in western Iraq. Iraqi and Western security sources reported, two days before a historic visit by Pope Francis to the country.

“Iraqi security forces are investigating”Colonel Wayne Marotto, US spokesperson for the international anti-jihadist coalition, said on Twitter. Washington regularly points to pro-Iranian armed factions responsible for these types of attacks, which have escalated in recent weeks.

the base of Ain al-Assad It is home to Iraqi forces, as well as troops from the US-led coalition that is helping Iraq fight the remnants of the Islamic State group.

Coalition spokesperson, colonel Wayne Marotto confirmed that 10 rockets hit the base at 7.20am (4.20am GMT), but did not provide details of the casualties.

For their part, Iraqi security forces said that 10 “Grad-type rockets” hit the sprawling base of Ain al-Assad on Wednesday morning, but they said that “There were no notable casualties.”

Western security sources said AFP What the rockets were Iranian-made Arash models, which are 122mm artillery rockets and heavier than those seen in other attacks on Western targets in Iraq.

Dozens of rocket and roadside bomb attacks targeted Western military, diplomatic and security sites in Iraq in 2020, with Iraqi and Western military sources blaming extremist pro-Iran factions.

They almost came to a complete stop in October after a truce with the hardline, but have resumed at a rapid pace over the past three weeks.

In mid-February, rockets struck US-led coalition troops in the Kurdish regional capital Arbil, a US military outsourcing company that works north of the capital and the US Embassy. United in Baghdad.

The US Air Force on Thursday attacked facilities in northeastern Syria used by militias supported by the Iranian regime, killing at least 22 people., in retaliation for recent rocket attacks on U.S. troop locations in Iraq, the Pentagon said.

“Under President (Joe) Biden’s leadership, US military forces carried out airstrikes earlier this evening against infrastructure used by Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria.”spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

“This offensive was authorized in response to recent attacks on US and coalition personnel in Iraq., and the continuing threats to these personnel, ”he added.

It is the first military action ordered by President Joe Biden, who took office on January 20 to replace Donald Trump. Biden had declared his intention to put the focus of US foreign policy on China, although that first move took place in the Middle East.

(With information from AFP)

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