Photo: Ain al-Asad airbase, which houses US troops in Iraq in the western province of Anbar
At least five US troops were wounded in an attack on a military base in Iraq on Monday, August 5, US officials told Reuters.
According to two Iraqi security sources, the strike was carried out using a Katyusha MLRS on the Al-Asad airbase in western Iraq. One Reuters source added that the missiles fell on the base.
U.S. officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said one American was seriously injured, stressing that the figures were preliminary. "Base personnel are assessing the damage following the attack," one of the officials added.
It is unclear whether the attack was linked to threats by Iran and its allies to retaliate for last week's killings of senior members of the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas (designated a terrorist organization by the United States).
Iraq is one of the few countries that maintains close relations with both the United States and Iran. There are about 2,500 American troops in the country, while Tehran-backed militias also operate in Iraq.
According to Reuters, Baghdad is pushing for the US-led military coalition to begin a gradual withdrawal from Iraq in September and formally end its work in the country by early autumn 2025. However, some American troops are likely to remain in Iraq in an advisory capacity.
Baghdad is trying to contain pro-Iranian groups that have attacked U.S. troops in the country and neighboring Syria dozens of times since Oct. 7.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. During the conversation, the top American diplomat reportedly called on Sudani to persuade Tehran to soften its expected response to the Israeli strike on Iran.
On Monday, the State Department said Washington had communicated through its diplomatic channels to Iran that escalating the situation in the Middle East “at a critical time for the region” was not in Tehran's interest. “All sides must refrain from escalating,” Secretary Blinken said. “All sides must take steps to reduce tensions. No one has an interest in escalating. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence and less security.”.
Prepared by: Sergey Daga