US Personnel Wounded in Suspected Rocket Attack on Iraq Base: Defense Officials

U.S. Soldiers during an aerial response force live-fire training exercise at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, in a file photo dated Oct. 31, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Leland White)

Several United States military personnel were injured during a suspected rocket attack at Asad Airbase in western Iraq on August 5, according to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

A DOD spokesperson told The Epoch Times, “Initial indications are that several U.S. personnel were injured. Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment.”

No indication of who was responsible for the attack was provided.

During a call, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant agreed that the attack “marked a dangerous escalation” and a demonstration of Iran’s “destabilizing role in the region,” according to an Aug. 5 readout from the DOD.

Tensions across the Middle East have spiked following strikes that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon last week.

Iran has blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s death. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike.

Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed revenge in a social media post but provided no other details about what form that retaliation might take.

US Military Presence Beefed Up

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Aug. 5 that the DOD continues to move vessels and aircraft across the Middle East to help with the defense of Israel and ensure U.S. forces can better “respond to a range of contingencies.”

In recent days, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of an additional fighter squadron to the Middle East, to reinforce “defensive air support capability.”

Additional ballistic missile defense capable cruisers and destroyers were also sent to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) regions, according to the DOD’s Aug. 2 statement.

CENTCOM forces destroyed three Houthi uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) launched from “Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the Gulf of Aden,” according to an Aug. 5 update.

Additionally, the military command revealed its forces destroyed a Houthi UAS in Yemen. Separately, one uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) and an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) were destroyed in the Red Sea.

“These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” CENTCOM said. “This reckless and dangerous behavior by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security.”