SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A Katyusha rocket on Monday targeted Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base which houses U.S.-led Coalition troops, according to a coalition spokesman.
Coalition Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said in a tweet that the air base was attacked at 01:35 p.m. (local time), and no casualties reported.
“At 1335 local time, Ain Al-Asad Air Base (AAAB) was attacked by one rocket round. No injuries reported. Damage is being assessed. The attack is under investigation,” he tweeted.
“Each attack against the GoI, KRG and Coalition undermines the authority of Iraqi institutions, the rule of law and Iraqi national sovereignty,” he added.
Earlier, Shafaq News reported that the rocket launched towards the air base but fell near homes of citizens in east of al-Baghdadi region in Anbar province.
National Iraqi News Agency cited local sources as saying that five rockets targeted “sensitive sites inside the Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar province.”
“Sirens sounded inside the air base, while the American forces closed the wing of helicopters after violent explosions were heard inside the base,” the sources told NINA.
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.
*This story was updated at 03:55 p.m. EBL time
