Rocket fired at Kirkuk military base hosting US troops: security sources

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kirkuk’s K1 military base, which hosts US forces, came under rocket attack on Thursday night, security sources confirmed to Rudaw. No casualties have been reported. 

An official for the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State group (ISIS) told Rudaw English a single rocket hit in the K1 base.

Iraq’s Security Media Cell confirmed the incident in a tweet. 

“A rocket fell in the K1 base in Kirkuk province without causing any damage worth mentioning,” the cell said.

Security forces searched the area and discovered a launch pad containing 11 unfired rockets, the cell added.

Citing three Iraqi security sources, AFP reported the attack occurred at 8:45 PM local time.

Approximately 5,200 US troops are stationed across several Iraqi military bases as part of the global anti-ISIS coalition to train and support local forces.

These bases, however, have repeatedly come under rocket attack in recent months. Iran-backed militias affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, are believed to be responsible. 

A similar attack on December 27 targeting the K1 base killed a US civilian contractor and injured other servicemen, escalating tensions between the US and Iran.

The death of a US citizen was a redline for the Americans, who on December 29 conducted retaliatory airstrikes against Kataib Hezbollah, a Shiite militia largely thought responsible for the K1 attack, killing 25 fighters.

Kataib Hezbollah supports then stormed the US embassy compound in Baghdad. 

Then on January 3, the US assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and the deputy head of the PMFs Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a drone strike on Baghdad airport. 

Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases hosting US troops on January 7.

US troops have shifted their deployments across Iraq and halted anti-ISIS operations to protect their personnel.

The Iraqi parliament and several Shiite leaders have demanded a full US withdrawal from Iraq.