The United States evacuated two people from an air base in Iraq for additional medical care after a rocket attack on Monday wounded seven people. A U.S. defense official said Tuesday that the seven people — five soldiers and two contractors — were wounded after two rockets hit the al-Asad air base in western Iraq.
The official said all seven were in stable condition but two others were taken for “further treatment.” “The post-attack investigation is ongoing,” the official said. “We will continue to provide updates.”
“So far no one has claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks, while much of the region is waiting for a possible attack by Iran and its proxies on Israel.
The attack was in retaliation for the killing of senior members of the Iran-backed terror groups Hezbollah and Hamas. But the Iraqi military said on Tuesday it had found trucks and rocket launchers used in the attack in the nearby town of Haditha.
They also said they were close to finding the perpetrators. Iraq hosts about 2,500 U.S. troops tasked with advising and assisting Iraqi forces in their pursuit of the remnants of the Islamic State group. But Iraq is also home to numerous Iranian-backed militias, some of which consult with Tehran about possible retaliation against Israel. There are also periodic tensions between the U.S. and Iraq. (ps/jm)
