BAGHDAD (AFP) – A rocket attack on a base in Iraq wounded seven Americans, a US official said on Tuesday, with Washington blaming a militia group and saying such violence will not be tolerated.
The rocket fire the previous day was the latest in a series of attacks targeting Ain al-Assad base in recent weeks, which hosts American troops as well as other personnel from the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.
“Five US service members and two US contractors were injured in the attack,” in which two rockets struck the base, a US defence official said on condition of anonymity.
Five of the wounded are being treated at the base while two have been evacuated for further treatment, the official said, adding that all are in stable condition.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin later told journalists that “the United States will not tolerate attacks on our personnel in the region”.
The Iraqi government’s security media unit said that the country’s forces had seized a truck with eight rockets ready for launch and were pursuing the perpetrators of the attack on the military base.
It reiterated the “strong objection” to any aggression, whether from inside or outside Iraq, on Iraqi territories, interests and targets.
“We reject all reckless actions against Iraqi bases, diplomatic missions, and locations of the international coalition advisors, as well as anything that could escalate tension in the region or drag Iraq into dangerous situations,” it added.
