Five U.S. service members and two contractors were injured Monday in a rocket attack at an Iraqi air base, defense officials said, an incident that risks further escalation in a region on the brink of wider conflict.
The Pentagon said Tuesday that militants supported by Iran were responsible for the attack at Al Asad air base. U.S. forces in Iraq and neighboring Syria have repeatedly tangled with such groups as Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza has inspired spillover violence.
Militants launched two rockets at Al Asad, located in western Iraq, officials said. Iraqi troops, who share the base with the Americans, reported hearing ambulance sirens and alarms.
Two U.S. personnel had to be evacuated for further medical care, but all seven who were injured are in stable condition, said a U.S. defense official, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the incident.
@ISIDEWITH9mos9MO
Does the idea of 'retaliation' by one country against another for attacks like the one at Al Asad air base make you feel safer or more concerned about global conflicts?
@ISIDEWITH9mos9MO
What are your thoughts on the impact of military incidents like the Al Asad air base attack on the relationships between countries involved, such as the U.S., Iraq, and Iran?
