2024-01-20 18:20:31
MADRID, 21 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Iraqi Al Asad base was the scene this Saturday of a major rocket attack carried out by pro-Iranian militias against the US forces stationed in this position, located in the western province of Anbar.
The attack was initially confirmed by a security source to the official Iraqi news agency NINA and later verified by another security source to the newspaper ‘Baghdad Al Youm’.
“The US base, where US troops are stationed as part of the international coalition against Islamic State, was hit by several missiles from the municipality of Al Baghdadi,” according to the latter media.
An American official has confirmed the attack and slightly wounded Americans in statements to the Iraqi Shafaq news agency, although there is no official information on the matter. The source has indicated that it was an attack with ballistic missiles and possibly another type. What happened is already being investigated.
He has also indicated that there is a member of the Iraqi security forces seriously injured, which has later been confirmed by an Iraqi military spokesman, General Yahya Rasul.
Later, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed through the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, that “Iran-backed militants have attacked the Al Asad air base in Iraq.”
“At approximately 6:30 pm (Baghdad time) on January 20, Iranian-backed militants launched multiple ballistic missiles and rockets in western Iraq against Al Asad Air Base,” reads a CENTCOM statement, adding that “most of the missiles were intercepted by the base’s air defense systems, while others hit the base.”
In the same publication, the US Central Command has assured that “damage assessment is ongoing” and has confirmed that, for the moment, at least “one Iraqi service member has been injured” and “several US personnel are being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries.”
Rasul has informed the Iraqi news agency INA that several projectiles have hit near the headquarters of the 29th Brigade of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
Shortly afterwards, the pro-Iran militias of the Islamic Resistance of Iraq – Kataib Hezbollah – claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement reported by the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim.
The attack, in line with other similar ones since the beginning of the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, also takes place after the death of four operatives of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, including two senior advisors, in an alleged Israeli attack in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Washington has recorded more than a hundred attacks against its forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17, 2023. The United States has carried out several retaliatory airstrikes against pro-Iran militiamen.
In Iraq there are about 2,500 US soldiers, while in Syria there are about 900 within the framework of the North American mission to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State.
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