SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The U.S.-led Coalition forces confirmed on Saturday a drone attack on Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base hosting the Coalition troops.
“This morning at 0220 Ain Al-Asad Air Base (AAAB) was attacked by an unmanned aerial surveillance system,” Coalition Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said in a tweet.
He further said the attack caused no casualties, but damaged a hanger.
Earlier on Saturday, Shafaq News reported that the base was attacked by an explosives-laden drone, which exploded near headquarters of the Iraqi army.
National Iraqi News Agency said two drones fired missiles at the base, one of which was shot down while the other reached the air base.
“Each attack against the GoI, KRG and Coalition undermines the authority of Iraqi institutions, the rule of law and Iraqi national sovereignty,” Marotto tweeted, using acronyms for the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
On Tuesday, two Katyusha rockets landed in an empty square at the air base in Anbar province. Three other rockets hit Balad Air base, north of Baghdad, on Monday, where some U.S. contractors are billeted.
No groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks, but armed groups that some Iraqi officials say are backed by Iran have claimed similar incidents.
U.S. officials blame Iran-backed militias for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
