Rockets Target Military Base Western Iraq Where US Occupation Forces Are Positioned

By Staff, Agencies

A barrage of rockets has reportedly landed in an airbase in Iraq’s western province of Anbar, where American military occupation forces are stationed.

Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units, better known by the Arabic name as Hashd al-Shaabi, reported that several rockets hit Ain al-Assad Airbase, some 160 kilometers west of the capital Baghdad, on Saturday morning.

The report said C-RAM systems as well as Patriot Advanced Capability-2 [PAC-2] missile systems deployed at the base failed to intercept the rockets.

Meanwhile, a number of Arabic-language television networks said Iraqi resistance fighters had staged a drone attack on the airbase.

No group has claimed responsibility for the operation yet, which is the latest in a series of operations that have targeted US occupation forces over the past few months.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi army announced in a statement that two rockets had landed inside Ain al-Assad military base, but the attack had caused no casualties. No further information was provided.

The Iraqi al-Ahad television channel said rocket sirens went off at the sprawling installation.

The development came only a day after at least six rockets struck the al-Balad Airbase, which is occupied by US forces and their warplanes and lies 64 kilometers north of Baghdad.

Last week, an airbase similarly housing the United States-led coalition’s forces at Baghdad International Airport came under rocket fire.

The attacks come amid growing anti-US sentiments in Iraq where lawmakers have approved a bill requiring the government to end the presence of all foreign military forces.

Last month, Badr al-Ziyadi, a member of the defense and security committee at the Iraqi parliament, called for the evacuation of American troops. He told Arabic-language al-Maalomah news agency that the US seeks to keep its forces in Iraq with no intention of ever withdrawing. 

Two lawmakers with the Fatah Alliance at the legislature also warned of US intentions for a permanent military presence in Iraq.

The MPs stressed that the Iraqi security forces are capable of protecting the country, adding the US combat forces have no role in fighting terrorism in Iraq.