Defense Secretary Austin: U.S. will not "tolerate" attacks on troops in the Middle East
In a rocket attack on the Air Force base Ain al-Assad in Iraq's Al-Anbar province on Monday, seven US personnel were injured. This was the third attack on the base in just over three weeks. The base hosts forces from the US and the anti-jihadist coalition it leads.
In a statement following a phone call between US Defense Secretary Austin and his Israeli counterpart Joav Gallant, the Pentagon described the rocket fire as "an attack by an Iran-linked militia on US forces." Both agreed it was a "dangerous escalation."
Since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas on October 7, attacks on Iraqi and Syrian bases used by the US military have increased significantly. The Monday attack came at a time when an Iranian and proxy attack on Israel was anticipated following the killing of senior Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah figures.
There are around 2,500 US soldiers stationed in Iraq, with another 900 in neighboring Syria. The US-led international military coalition in these countries was established in 2014 to push back Sunni IS militants.
The European Union expressed concern over the escalating violence towards US forces in Iraq, urging de-escalation and adherence to international law. The European Union also warned against actions that could further destabilize theregion, stressing the importance of regional stability and peace.
