Casualties ruled out, missiles hit where US troops and contractors are stationed

Three missiles hit near Baghdad airport where US-led coalition is based

photo_camera PHOTO/AMEER AL MOHAMMED - An Iraqi army soldier stands guard at Qayyarah airbase

At least three rockets struck near Baghdad's international airport late on Thursday, the Iraqi army said. Sirens sounded at the US "Victory Military Base" inside the airport after the missiles landed nearby. On Thursday and Friday night, missiles fell on the military base at Baghdad International Airport, where Iraqi and US forces are stationed. The missiles were launched from the "Euphrates neighbourhood" near Baghdad airport, southwest of the Iraqi capital.

The sources said the three missiles hit the air base in the part occupied by Iraqi forces, not US forces. The base is shared by Iraqi and US military personnel participating in the US-led international coalition against Daesh. For its part, the Iraqi Security Media Cell said that "three missiles fell on the perimeter of Baghdad International Airport", where the first missile collided near the Al-Karkh Central Prison, and the second near the Counter-Terrorism Service Academy. He confirmed that no casualties were reported. There were no reports of loss of life or property as a result of the attack, for which neither side has yet claimed responsibility.

Iraqi media reported that the rocket launcher was found west of Baghdad. Meanwhile, Al-Arabiya channel sources said that "eight rocket launchers were found, of which only three were launched at Baghdad airport ... where security forces managed to thwart the rocket launchers. where security forces managed to thwart the firing of five missiles at Baghdad airport". Iraqi media reported that the missiles that landed near the airport were of the "Katyusha" type. This is the second missile attack on US forces in Iraq in less than a week. Another military base north of Baghdad was hit by five missiles on Sunday, resulting in five injuries, including three Iraqi soldiers and two foreign contractors.

Atalayar_Mustafa al Kadhimi primer ministro de Irak

In all, 23 missile or bomb attacks have targeted bases housing US military or diplomatic headquarters since President Joe Biden's arrival in the White House on 20 January, while dozens of others have occurred before that over a period of more than a year and a half.

The rockets hit areas where Iraqi security forces are known to be located. One hit near a central prison, the second near an elite counter-terrorism service academy and the third near the headquarters of the rapid response regiment.

US officials have previously blamed Iranian-backed militias. It is the latest in a series of rocket attacks that have mainly targeted US installations in Iraq in recent weeks. On Sunday, several rockets hit an Iraqi air base north of Baghdad, injuring two Iraqi security personnel.

Atalayar_Soldado iraquí con mascarilla

Last month, a base in western Iraq housing US-led coalition troops and contractors was hit by 10 rockets, killing one contractor. Calls have increased from mainly Shi'ite leaders to expel US troops from Iraq after a US-led drone strike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad in January 2020.

So far no group has claimed responsibility for the action, although attacks on US-occupied facilities have been recurrent over the past year since Iranian commander Qassem Solemani was killed in a targeted US bombing in Baghdad in January 2020.

Washington directly accuses Iranian-backed Iraqi militias, which have repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks but have demanded the withdrawal of US troops from the country.

The action also comes at a time when there are talks between the US and Iraq about the role of combat forces inside the Arab country, which in the past year has been limited to advisory and training tasks. The strategic talks have focused on the future of the US troop presence in the country. 

More in Politics