Three rockets were launched at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on Tuesday, targeting the Victory Base that houses US troops, according to AFP sources.
The base’s defence system intercepted two of the rockets, while the third landed near the Counter Terrorism Service Command headquarters. Despite the attack, no casualties were reported, and air traffic at the airport remained unaffected.
The United States currently has approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of a coalition formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group.This coalition also includes forces from the UK, France, and other nations.
The attack comes amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza and Israeli strikes in Lebanon raising concerns about a potential regional war.
Prior to this incident, there had been a period of relative calm. However, in August, a rocket attack on the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq injured seven Americans, and in September, Washington accused Iran-aligned militias of attacking the US diplomatic compound in Baghdad.
Iran-backed factions in Iraq have been demanding the withdrawal of US troops, and last Friday, Washington and Baghdad announced that the international coalition would end its military mission in Iraq within the next year, although the number of US forces that would remain was not specified.
Since the outbreak of fighting in Gaza on October 7, militant groups have increasingly targeted US military bases in Iraq and Syria in protest of Washington’s military support for Israel. In response, the US has conducted airstrikes on militia positions in both countries.