At least ten rockets hit an airbase housing US troops in Western Iraq. During the attack, one US contractor was killed. That contractor died of a heart attack while he was sheltering from the barrage.
There were no other injuries to anyone during the attack. The rockets hit Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province Wednesday morning. It is assumed that the attack was revenge for Biden bombing Iranian assets in Syria.
BREAKING: A U.S. contractor died when at least 10 rockets slammed into an air base housing U.S. and other coalition troops in Iraq, the Pentagon said. The Pentagon said the contractor “suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering” and died shortly later. https://t.co/cUY0o8NUQN
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 3, 2021
AP reported:
No one claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack, which comes two days before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the country amid concerns about security and the coronavirus pandemic. The much-anticipated trip will include stops in Baghdad, southern Iraq and the northern city of Irbil.
In addition to American troops, Danish and British are among those stationed at the base. It’s the same base that Iran struck with a barrage of missiles in January of last year in retaliation for the killing of Soleimani. Dozens of U.S. service members suffered concussions in that strike.
The Iraqi military released a statement saying that Wednesday’s attack did not cause significant losses and that security forces had found the launch pad used for the rockets — a truck. Video of the site shows a burning truck in a desert area.
The Iraqi military released a statement later that security forces found the pad from which the missiles were launched in a section of the al-Baghdadi area of Anbar.
There is little chance that a war will start because of this because Biden is in the middle of trying to get Iran to another lopsided deal in their favor.
He will not want to endanger that.
Despicable attacks against Ain al-Asad base in #Iraq are completely unacceptable. Reports still coming in.@coalition forces are working for stabilization & security on Iraq govt. invitation
Denmark remains committed, will coordinate closely with our partners and allies.#dkpol
— Jeppe Kofod (@JeppeKofod) March 3, 2021
