Two Katyusha rockets were fired at the Ain al-Assad airbase in Iraq, injuring at least five US personnel. The attack comes amid rising tensions following the killing of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. One of the Americans injured in the attack is said to be seriously wounded. The White House confirmed that President Biden and Vice President Harris have been briefed on the situation.
The US has deployed additional military forces to the Middle East in anticipation of retaliatory threats from Iran, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The attack on the military base in Iraq is seen as a dangerous escalation by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
The US had previously conducted a strike in Iraq against individuals believed to be planning drone attacks against US and coalition forces. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has led to increased hostilities between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah, with the risk of a larger conflict looming.
Iraq, as a rare ally to both the US and Iran, has become a battleground for tit-for-tat attacks between various factions aligned with Tehran. The deployment of additional US military forces to the region is described as defensive, as tensions continue to escalate. The situation remains delicate, with the potential for a larger conflict to erupt.
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