Official announcements from the US Department of Defense or statements from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

Rocket Attack on US Base in Iraq Injures Five American Personnel, Marked as 'Dangerous Escalation'

Aug 6, 2024, 09:01 AM

A rocket attack on the al-Asad airbase in Iraq on Monday night injured five American personnel, including one seriously. The attack, which occurred around 10:30 pm local time, has been attributed to Iranian proxies, though no group has officially claimed responsibility. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have labeled the incident a 'dangerous escalation' amid heightened regional tensions between Iran and Israel. This marks the first attack to harm US troops in Iraq since February. The Pentagon confirmed the involvement of Iran-aligned militias in the attack, which adds to the already volatile situation in the region.