Alghadeer TV Alghadeer TV
A barrage of rockets has reportedly landed in an airbase in Iraq’s western province of Anbar, where American military forces are stationed.
A telegram news channel associated with Hashd Al-Sha’abi reported that several rockets hit Ein Al-Assad Airbase, located about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, on Saturday morning.
The report added C-RAM systems as well as Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) missile systems deployed at the base failed to intercept the rockets.
Col. Wayne Marotto, a Spokesperson for the US-led coalition, said on Twitter that initial reports indicated the base was “attacked by an unmanned aerial surveillance system”.
“No injuries reported. A hangar was damaged,” Marotto added.
A number of television networks said Iraqi resistance fighters had staged a drone attack on the airbase.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, which is the latest in a series of operations that have targeted US occupation forces over the past few months.
On Tuesday, the Iraqi Army announced in a statement that two rockets had landed inside Ein Al-Assad’s military base, but the attack had caused no casualties. No further information was provided.
The development came only a day after at least six rockets struck the Al-Balad Airbase, which houses US forces as well as warplanes and lies 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Baghdad.
Last week, an airbase similarly housing the United States-led coalition’s forces at Baghdad International Airport came under rocket fire.
The attacks come amid growing anti-US sentiments in Iraq where lawmakers have approved a bill requiring the government to end the presence of all foreign military forces.
Two lawmakers with the Fatah Alliance at the legislature also warned of US intentions for a permanent military presence in Iraq.
The MPs stressed that the Iraqi security forces are capable of protecting the country, adding the US combat forces have no role in fighting terrorism in Iraq.
On April 8, Iraq and the US announced they had agreed on the eventual withdrawal of US “combat” troops from Iraq, and that the two sides would hold talks to work out the timing.
The mission of US forces is now supposed to be focused on what is claimed to be “training” Iraqi troops to fight Daesh (ISIL or ISIS).
Iraqi resistance groups have warned that they will treat the American troops as occupying forces and take up arms against them if they refuse to leave their country.
