Rockets struck a military base housing American troops near Baghdad International Airport, escalating tensions in an already volatile Middle East.
According to a Daily Mail report, the attack occurred on Tuesday, with three rockets launched at the Victoria Base. Two of the projectiles were successfully intercepted by the base's defense systems, while the third landed near the Counter Terrorism Service Command headquarters.
Iraqi security sources confirmed that no casualties resulted from the incident, and air traffic at the airport remained unaffected. The interior ministry later clarified that two Katyusha rockets had fallen, one in a garage and another in an abandoned yard within the airport premises.
Iraqi Prime Minister Orders Swift Investigation
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani responded promptly to the attack, directing the Minister of Interior to conduct an immediate investigation into what he termed a "security breach."
The Prime Minister's office released a statement emphasizing the urgency of the situation:
He has also ordered that the results of the investigation and the identification of those responsible be announced within 48 hours.
Security forces acted swiftly, seizing a rocket launcher in a residential area near the airport and dismantling three unfired rockets.
Rising Tensions Amid Regional Conflicts
The rocket attack comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with recent events contributing to an increasingly unstable environment.
Baghdad has experienced unrest following the reported killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. The incident sparked protests, with supporters of the Popular Mobilization Forces attempting to enter Baghdad's Green Zone, aiming to target the US embassy.
This latest attack is part of a broader pattern of militant factions targeting bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria, which they attribute to American military support for Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
US Troop Presence and Future Plans
The United States maintains a significant military presence in the region, with approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the coalition established to combat the Islamic State group.
Recently, Washington and Baghdad announced plans to end the international coalition's decade-long military mission in Iraq within a year. However, the specifics regarding the number of American troops that will remain in the country have not been disclosed.
In response to this announcement, the Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee, a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups, has called for a comprehensive withdrawal with a clear timeline.
The rocket attack near Baghdad airport, the ongoing regional conflicts, and the evolving US military presence in Iraq underscore the complex and volatile nature of the current situation in the Middle East. As investigations proceed and diplomatic efforts continue, the international community remains watchful of further developments that could impact regional stability.
