The Al Asad Air Base, located in Iraq and which houses US military personnel, was allegedly attacked at 01:30 am this Wednesday (08/01) – Local Time – by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Iran.
The attack was carried out with 13 missiles, launched directly from Iranian territory. For now there is no information on how many American soldiers were killed, or if the site was unoccupied.
Al Asad Air Base is about 240 kilometers west of Baghdad.
President Trump has been briefed on reports of rocket attacks on an air base where US troops are stationed in Iraq, his spokesman said.
“We are aware of reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been informed and is monitoring the situation closely and in consultation with his national security team,” said Stephanie Grisham, White House press secretary.
“It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and hit at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalitions in Al-Assad and Irbil”, Jonathan Hoffman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, said in a statement.
“We are working on initial battle damage assessments”, he added. There are casualties among Iraqis at Ain al-Asad air base.
The grassroots, he said, are on high alert. “due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region.”
The attack came after a pledge to retaliate for the US strike that led to the death of Qassem Soleimani.
Later, the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces declared the launch of a military operation to retaliate against Iran's attack.
With information from CNN International.
