The White House has expressed grave concern regarding the recent attack on a US military base in Iraq by militants believed to be backed by Iran. This statement was issued following the weekend incident.
According to the US military, Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq was targeted late Saturday by “multiple ballistic missiles and rockets” fired by these militants. The attack resulted in casualties, including one Iraqi and potentially American personnel.
Jon Finer, the White House Deputy National Security Advisor, spoke about the incident on Sunday. He characterized the attack as severe, highlighting the use of ballistic missiles as a significant threat. Finer, during his appearance on ABC’s ‘This Week’, stated the US’s intention to respond appropriately to establish deterrence and hold the responsible groups accountable.
Finer and the Pentagon reported that most of the projectiles launched at the base were successfully intercepted by air defense systems.
The US has approximately 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq and around 900 in Syria, deployed as part of a coalition force to combat ISIS. Since mid-October, these forces have faced numerous attacks. Most of these incidents, including the latest attack on Saturday, have been claimed by “Islamic Resistance in Iraq”. This alliance of Iran-linked armed groups is known to oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
The use of ballistic missiles in the recent attack represents an escalation in the nature of these assaults. Previous attacks typically involved less sophisticated rockets and drones.
This incident at Ain al-Asad air base occurs amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, especially following the onset of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
