Saturday, May 18, 2024

Baghdad

Missiles target Ain Al-Asad air base in western Iraq

 Missiles target Ain Al-Asad air base in western Iraq

The Ain Al-Asad air base in western Iraq. Photo: AFP

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Two security sources said that drones and missiles targeted the Ain Al-Asad air base, which houses US and coalition forces, on Thursday night, when several explosions were reported.

The Iraqi military reported having blocked off the area around the military base and begun investigating, according to Reuters.

The sources explained that no damages or casualties have been reported so far.

The attack is the third in the past 24 hours against sites housing US forces in Iraq.

The US Central Command said on Wednesday that the US military defended against three drones near US and coalition forces in Iraq.

A statement released by the US Central Command mentioned that US Forces, in the last 24 hours, engaged two drones, destroying one and damaging the second, resulting in minor injuries to Coalition Forces.

The statement clarified that US forces engaged and destroyed a drone separately in northern Iraq, resulting in no injuries or damage.

The attacks are the first of their kind in more than a year. With regional tension over the Israel-Hamas conflict increasing dramatically, Washington is on high alert for activities by groups backed by Iran.

Iranian-backed groups in Iraq threatened to target US interests in the region if Washington interfered in the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli occupying forces.

For the 13th day, intensive Israeli air strikes continue to target the Gaza Strip, destroying entire neighborhoods and leaving tens of thousands of civilians dead and injured.