At least five US personnel were injured in a rocket attack on the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, Reuters reported on Monday, citing US and Iraqi sources.
The US officials said one of the Americans who was wounded had serious injuries and that the number of casualties could change as the damage is still being assessed. The Iraqi sources said two Katyusha rockets were fired at the base.
The attack comes as the region is on edge and expecting an Iranian reprisal attack on Israel for the killing of Hamas’s political chief in Tehran. Iran’s allies, including the Shia militias in Iraq that have taken credit for previous rocket attacks on US bases, could be involved in the response.
The US is vowing it will defend Israel from any Iranian reprisal, making it possible that US military assets are targeted in a coordinated response by Iran and its allies. There’s no sign yet that Iran’s reprisal has started, and the rocket attack on Ain al-Asad is likely a response to airstrikes the US launched in Iraq last week.
On July 30, the US launched airstrikes in Iraq that killed four members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of mainly Shia militias that are part of Iraq’s security forces. The strike on the PMF was strongly condemned by the Iraqi government, the US’s supposed partner in the country.
The US bombed the PMF after rocket attacks targeted US bases in Iraq and Syria, which caused no damage or casualties.
From October 2023 until February, US bases in Iraq and Syria came under hundreds of rocket and drone attacks. Iraqi Shia militias began the attacks in response to US support for the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.
After three US troops were killed in an attack on Tower 22, a secretive base in Jordan on the Syrian border, Iran and the Iraqi government pressured the militias to stop, and there have only been a handful of attacks since February.
Earlier this year, Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani called for the US to withdraw from Iraq over US airstrikes on the PMF. The US and Iraq have entered talks on the future of the US military presence, and Baghdad reportedly wants a drawdown to begin in September, but no concrete plans have been announced.
Iraq and the Iraqi people will, nay must, decide soon whether they will be like Vietnam and the Vietnamese People, or not?!?!?!
"America," the American Empire, never leaves after it has once invaded, unless it is driven out by force.
dennis hanna
The US just left Niger I guess. But it doesn’t want to leave Iraq.
Sunni and Shia need to work together.
U.S. will leave Iraq. They are only there on behest of Israel and the Saudis.
Must not be any oil left to steal in Niger?
There will be no invasion of Iran.
First, we would have to see an Aircraft Carrier sinking. …What's that? …Netanyahu says thank you for the idea? …Delete… Delete… Delete… …Thomas, the Delete button is not working!?
Sounds like some kind of technical problem. I’m not sure how to reproduce it because I’m not really clear on what you’re saying. Are you trying to delete one of your own comments and it’s not working?
LOL. My wife was right. If I have to splain it, it’s not funny.
It was funny.
Absolutely VITAL that EVERYONE following me listen to this Alastair Crooke interview on Youtube AND repost it to EVERYONE you know. This is THE best info on the Middle East situation available. Alastair Crooke – Willful Western Blindness Over Israel
Yes, I agree. His interviews are fantastic.
Judge Napolitano conducts terrific interviews on his YouTube channel.
Larry Johnson, Scott Ritter, Karen Kwiatkowski, Jeffrey Sachs, Lawrence Wilkerson, Ray McGovern, Allistar Crooke, John Mearsheimer and more. You'll get more accurate information on the wars from any three of them then you'll get from the Western Media.
You’ll definitely get a different perspective on the wars then you’ll get on the Propaganda media.
When our Government states loudly, that they will defend Israel no matter what atrocities they commit, they are seen as Israel by the World. Iraqi's do not want Israel on their land, do not want an armed Israel on their land, want their enemy OUT. Why we continue to disrespect the LIVES of American Soldiers by putting them in harms way, is proof that Israel has bought and paid for Congress, Presidents and our Military. Vote them OUT, vote against the Zionist/Rep/Dem Party.
After serving a 15 month tour 17 years ago, I can say without reservation, we had no reason to be there.
Thank you for your service to the empire.
There doesn't seem to be much interest about these latest "Wounded Warriors" on the Fake News.
Iran is doing an excellent job by putting their news in English. I really do suggest giving them a visit.
It was always in English and local language…!
You're allowed to hear news from Iran? Where and since when? I thought that was illegal here.