Ain Al Asad airbase in the western Anbar desert, Iraq, which US troops share with Iraqi forces. AP
Ain Al Asad airbase in the western Anbar desert, Iraq, which US troops share with Iraqi forces. AP

US personnel injured in rocket attack on Ain Al Asad airbase in Iraq



Five US personnel were injured on Monday in what is believed to be a rocket attack against Ain Al Asad airbase, which houses American and coalition forces in Iraq, a representative of the US Defence Department told The National.

"Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," the official said. "We will provide updates as more information becomes available."

Reuters, which first reported the attack, said two rockets were launched towards the base.

Images on social media appeared to show smoke from the rockets being launched. Early on Tuesday, a previously unheard-of group calling themselves the Revolutionaries claimed responsibility at the attack.

Iraq said on Tuesday it rejects all "reckless" actions that target Iraqi bases, diplomatic missions, and US-led coalition outposts.

A large number of attacks in Iraq in recent years have been claimed by new militia organisations, as opposed to established powerful groups within the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a government-backed but largely Iran-aligned umbrella group of militias.

Experts say many of these new groups are simply front organisations for US-designated terrorist organisations such as Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al Haq, now within the PMF.

They are blamed by the US and UK for hundreds of fatal attacks on their troops, and by rights groups for killing civilians over years of conflict.

After a long pause during negotiations between the government in Baghdad and the US to arrange a departure of American forces from Iraq, the groups have resumed attacks on US troops, who share the vast Aid Al Asad base with Iraqi forces.

The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed earlier in the day on the national security situation in the region, with a focus on "threats posed by Iran and its proxies to Israel and to US service members in the region".

Mike McCaul, the Republican chairman of the US House foreign affairs committee, said he was "deeply troubled" to learn that US service members had been injured.

"This is just the latest in a long series of attacks from Iran and its proxies," Mr McCaul said in a statement.

"More must be done by this administration to protect our troops in the region."

The attack comes amid heightened regional tension after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which has been blamed on Israel.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the killing, but did claim the assassination of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.

The latest attack occurred hours after Mr Biden spoke to Jordan's King Abdullah II by phone.

King Abdullah stressed "the need to de-escalate" and "reach a comprehensive calm" that prevents a wider regional war, Amman said in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also urged de-escalation, even as Washington has posted warships in the region in preparation for a spillover.

After a months-long pause in Iran-backed attacks against US coalition forces in the region after the start of the Israel-Gaza war, strikes began again in July when forces intercepted another two drones bound for Ain Al Asad.

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at Washington's Middle East Institute, said a response from the US after that one attack in July is unlikely, but that could change "if there are more to come".

Three US soldiers were killed by a drone attack by an Iran-backed Iraqi militia on a US base in north-eastern Jordan in January.

That led to US retaliatory strikes on dozens of targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iraq and Syria.

The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars

- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes

- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)

  • Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave. 
  • Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
  • Help out around the house.
  • Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
  • Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
  • Offer to strip the bed before you go.
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

Updated: August 06, 2024, 10:36 AM