Missiles hit Iraq base hosting US troops

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three Katyusha missiles have hit Taji Military Base, north of Baghdad, where US forces are stationed, Iraq's Security Media Cell has reported - the second such attack on a military base in four days.

“A short while ago, three Katyusha missiles fell on Camp Taji,” Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced on Monday night. 

Camp Taji, about 85 kilometers to the north of the capital Baghdad, hosts US military personnel.

Last Friday, three mortars hit Balad Air Base, which houses F-16 airplanes Iraq has purchased from the US, leading to fire in the dry brush around the camp. 

Hoshyar Zebari, senior KDP official and former Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs, condemned the “alarming and risky” attacks.

“Rockets & mortars attack #Balad air base hosting Iraqi #F16US fighters, #American technicians & advisors. Today’s mortar attacks on #Taji base also with US & coalition advisors north #Baghdad is alarming & risky game by the perpetrators,” Zebari said in a tweet on Monday night. 

A May 19 Katyusha rocket struck Iraq’s Green Zone, missing the US embassy by just a mile. 

The assailants of the attacks are unknown, but many Iran-affiliated  Iraqi Shiite militias are currently active in Iraq and are thought to be responsible.

Tensions between US and Iran continue to simmer following attacks on two ships, one Japanese-owned, the other Norwegian-operated,  in the Gulf of Oman. The US has accused Iran of attacking the ships – claims Iran have strongly denied. 

Iraq has sought a de-escalation of tensions, repeatedly saying that it wishes to avoid being caught in the crossfire of a possible US-Iran conflict.