2024-08-06 09:54:59
“Minutes ago, Iran’s proxy groups in Iraq attacked the American military base (Ain Al-Assad), reported the telegraph lambs without further details for now. In my opinion, this attack is a sign of the beginning of the expected coordinated response of Iran, because of the assassination of the political leader of Hamas Ismail Haniya”. This is what journalist Mohamed Khalaf wrote on his Facebook profile.
Minutes ago, Iran’s proxy groups in Iraq attacked the American military base (Ain Al-Assad), reported the telegraph…
Posted by Mohamed Khalaf on Monday 5 August 2024
Two Katyusha rockets were fired at the US Ain al-Assad air base in western Iraq, where US and other international forces are stationed, security sources said.
It is not clear whether the attack caused casualties or damage inside the base, reports Reuters, quoted by bTV.
One security source said the missiles fell inside the base.
The base was also attacked at the beginning of the year. Several American servicemen and an Iraqi soldier were then wounded.
Earlier, the US announced that the deployment of additional military power in the Middle East was a defensive measure aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region.
Worries of escalation were heightened after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the Iranian capital Tehran.
A day earlier, an Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital Beirut killed Fouad Shukr, a senior military commander from the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Both groups are backed by Iran.
A US Air Force fighter squadron consisting of F-22 Raptors fighter jets will be additionally deployed to the region, a person familiar with the deployment told Air & Space Forces magazine.
The Pentagon is also sending more cruisers and destroyers capable of protecting against ballistic missiles, and may bolster ground-based surface-to-air capabilities.
The F-22 squadron will join other US Air Force fighter squadrons in the Middle East.
F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons are now deployed to US Central Command. So are the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.