Rocket attack targets US-led coalition in western Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least one rocket landed kilometers away from a military base housing American troops in western Iraq, marking the latest of several attacks, the US-led coalition confirmed to Rudaw on Saturday.

A rocket landed four kilometers away from Ain al-Asad base in Anbar province at 7:55 pm without causing casualties, the coalition said.

The rocket was fired from Heet city in the province, the force said.

Iraqi Security Media Cell later raised the number of rockets to two, affirming that no casualties were reported. 

The facility, home to Iraqi army troops as well, has been subjected to at least three rocket and drone attacks since the start of the year.

Earlier in the month, the US forced foiled a drone attack targeting the base. 

In recent months, tens of rockets have targeted Iraqi facilities hosting foreign diplomats and soldiers, including the US embassy in Baghdad.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assaults.

Attacks on Iraqi bases, especially those hosting US troops, have increased since the US assassinated top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad in January 2020.

The US said at the time that Soleimani was planning imminent action against US personnel in Iraq, a country long torn between the competing demands of its principal allies Washington and Tehran.

Updated at 10:45 pm