Iraqi base with US-led coalition attacked by rockets

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The al-Asad airbase in central Iraq, which houses US troops, was attacked with rocket airstrikes on Wednesday morning.
• Iraqi officials said that Iranian-backed militia was behind the assault.
• The newest strike further adds to the ongoing hostility between Washington and Tehran as President Joe Biden wishes to reinstate diplomatic talks with Iran.

Local authorities reported that an Iraqi airbase sheltering US military troops was attacked by 10 rocket strikes on Wednesday morning.

Officials were still doing an investigation about the incident as it is not yet clearly known who was behind the assault. Iraqi authorities, though, discreetly made a statement pointing the attack to Iran.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said that one US civilian contractor died from having a heart attack while seeking a place to shelter during the strike, while there were no casualties from the US forces.

The new assault came after the US launched airstrikes on a Syrian base last week, which was believed to be housing Iran-backed armed groups. The retaliation, which US authorities initiated with the objective of restoring order with Iran, was made in response to a series of attacks launched by Iranian-supported militia based in Iraq.

“One of the things we were certainly hoping to achieve as a result of that strike was to deter future attacks by militia groups on our people, our facilities, and our Iraqi partners,” Kirby told the media Tuesday. “And we certainly hope it has that effect.”

According to Army spokesperson Col. Wayne Marotto, about 10 indirect-fire rockets hit the al-Asad airbase in central Iraq, approximately located 150 miles northwest of Baghdad. The hub caters to US troops who are battling against Islamic State groups and other extremist armed groups based in Iraq and Syria.

While Iraq did not directly blame Iran as the perpetrator of Wednesday’s attack, the statements of the Iraqi security forces commander-in-chief could be viewed as a warning to Iran to stop conducting further armed provocations, according to analysts.

Based on an English translation of the Wednesday meeting between Arabic officials, the Iraqi commander said that their troops were concentrating on addressing existing militant groups moving without the nation’s clearance. The chief also noted about Iraq’s distant role from regional and global power play competitions.

“It is a clear message to Iran and to its Iraqi proxies not to use Iraq in the former’s escalation with the United States,” Middle East Institute regional expert and senior fellow Randa Slim said.

In recent weeks, US President Joe Biden has expressed his intent to go the opposite direction from the more provocative acts of former President Donald Trump in dealing with Iran.

Wednesday’s rocket attack further escalates the tension between the US and Iran as Biden’s administration seeks to force Tehran to go back to the table to resume diplomatic talks about its nuclear programs.

Source: US News