Several US personnel injured in rocket attack on Al Asad airbase in Iraq
At least five US personnel have been injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq, according to US officials.
"We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack today against US and Coalition forces at Al Asad Airbase, Iraq," the official said.
The Middle East has been braced for a potential new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah last week.
Two Katyusha rockets were fired at Al Asad airbase in western Iraq, two Iraqi security sources said.
One Iraqi security source said the rockets fell inside the base, where no British personnel are based, but it remains unclear whether the attack was linked to threats by Iran to retaliate over the killing of the Hamas leader.
US officials added that one of the Americans was seriously injured and said the casualty count was based on initial reports so it could still change.
"Initial indications are that several US personnel were injured. Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," said one of the officials.
Wider Middle East war
Last week, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, was assassinated in the Iranian capital of Tehran, with the attack drawing threats of revenge by Iran on Israel.
Iran blamed Israel for the killing, but Israel has not claimed responsibility.
Following the killing of the senior military commander of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, Fuad Shukr, by Israel in a strike on Beirut last week, the killings have fuelled concern the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war.
Iran has said the US bears responsibility for the assassination of Haniyeh because of its support of Israel. Both Iran and Hezbollah have threatened to retaliate for the killings.
On Monday, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant agreed that the attack marked "a dangerous escalation," according to the Pentagon.
In January, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched by Iranian-backed militants at the Al Asad base airbase injuring several US military personnel.
US Central Command (CentCom) said most of the missiles were intercepted by the site's air defence systems, while others hit the base.
It followed a series of strikes on US positions in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-aligned groups in the region following the Israel-Gaza conflict accelerating last October.
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