SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 16 April 2024, Tuesday |

Rocket hits military base near Baghdad airport, no casualties – military

On Wednesday, an Iraqi military installation hosting US personnel near Baghdad’s international airport was hit by a Katyusha missile, according to Iraqi security and military officials.

According to an Iraqi military statement, a rocket launcher with one missile was discovered near the airport in the al-Jihad region in western Baghdad.

According to the sources, no one was injured in the event.

In recent weeks, US officials have warned that an increase in assaults on US soldiers in Iraq and Syria is likely, in part due to the two-year anniversary of the assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.

While there were no immediate claims of responsibility for recent attacks, Iraqi militia groups aligned with Iran vowed to retaliate for killing Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Wednesday’s attack is the second one this week targeting the base near Baghdad’s international airport after an attack by two drones was foiled on Monday.

Two explosive-laden drones were also shot down on Tuesday by Iraq’s air defenses as they approached the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. forces, west of Baghdad.

Soleimani was killed on Jan. 3, 2020 in a drone strike near Baghdad airport ordered by then-U.S. president Donald Trump.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday that Trump must face trial for the killing or Tehran would take revenge.

    Source:
  • Reuters