By The newspaper
05 Aug 2024, 20:23 PM EDT
Several U.S. personnel were reportedly injured in an alleged rocket attack on U.S. and coalition forces at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, a defense official confirmed to NBC News.
No additional details about the attack were immediately available as base personnel were conducting a damage assessment, an official told the same outlet.
Biden was notified of the attack
They also specified that President Joe Biden has already been informed about the accident. On Monday, August 5, the president met with his national security team to analyze the situation in the Middle East, following the increase in tension due to possible attacks by Iran and Hezbollah.
Joe Biden posted on X, about what he and Vice President Kamala Harris talked about and mentioned in the Situation Room:
“We received updates on threats posed by Iran and its proxies, diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions, and preparations to support Israel should it be attacked again,” the post said.
Biden continued: “We also discussed the steps we are taking to defend our forces and respond to any attacks against our personnel in the manner and location of our choosing.
Biden and Harris were also “briefed on continued diplomatic efforts to conclude the ceasefire and hostage release agreement,” according to a separate White House statement.
Attack on Iraq base amid tensions
The attack on the airbase in Iraq comes amid growing fears that the war between Israel and Hamas could spill over into a wider conflict in the Middle East. As mentioned, this follows the assassinations in Beirut and Tehran last week.
Israel announced that it had killed Fuad Shukr, a military commander of the Shiite movement, during a bombing in a Beirut suburb. Hours later, it was reported that Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had been killed in Iran.
They investigate attack on air base
Although the Israeli military has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death, Iranian authorities have blamed the country for the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country’s military is ready to face “any scenario,” referring to the growing tension.
NBC News also reported that the source of the attack on the US base in Iraq has not been identified as it is under investigation. Although it is not the first time that US personnel have been injured in the Middle East in recent months.
With information from NBC News
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