Multiple ballistic missiles, rockets fired at US base in Iraq

Multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched by Iranian-backed militants in Western Iraq targeting Al Asad air base in Iraq on Saturday, the United Sates Central Command(CENTCOM) said in a statement.

Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base's air defence systems while others impacted on the base, the statement added.

Damage assessments are ongoing, and a number of US personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries, and at least one Iraqi service member was wounded, CENTCOM statement said.

US personnel suffered minor injuries and a member of Iraq's security forces was wounded in an attack on Iraq's Ain Al Asad air base on Saturday, a US official said on Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The US military's Central Command said in a statement that the base was hit by multiple ballistic missiles and rockets fired by Iranian-backed militants from inside Iraq. The statement did not confirm the extent of any US injuries but said personnel were being evaluated for traumatic brain injury.

This photograph shows a section of the Samarra Wall in Samarra, Baghdad. AFP

The US military's assessment was more severe than initial accounts from security sources in Iraq, who, along with an Iraqi government source, had only reported rocket fire against the base.

Offering a sense of the scale of the attack, Central Command said most of the missiles were intercepted though others hit the base.

"Damage assessments are ongoing," Central Command said, adding the attack took place at 1830 in Iraq (1530 GMT).

Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, the US military has come under attack at least 58 times in Iraq and another 83 times in Syria by Iran-backed militants, usually with a mix of rockets and one-way attack drones.

Reuters