An air strike by the U.S. successfully thwarted a potential attack on the Ain al-Asad air base in Western Iraq. This base is known to house U.S. and international troops. According to two sources from the Iraqi army, the air strike targeted a rocket launcher that was set up to attack the base.
The Iraqi military detailed that the launcher, mounted on a small truck, was positioned approximately 7 kilometers east of Ain al-Asad. It was armed with at least two rockets aimed at the base. The U.S. strike effectively destroyed this launcher, as confirmed by an army official.
At the time of reporting, officials from the U.S.-led coalition had not provided comments regarding the air strike.
The United States maintains a military presence in the region, with 900 troops in Syria and an additional 2,500 in Iraq. Their primary mission is to support and advise local forces in their efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State. The extremist group had seized extensive territories in both countries in 2014 but was subsequently driven back.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October, U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have faced over 100 attacks, predominantly through rockets and attack drones. Militia groups in Iraq and Syria, aligned with Iran, have expressed opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza and hold the U.S. partially accountable for these events.
