US will respond to attack on their base in Iraq, White House says

The White House expresses concern over the attack by Iran-backed militants on the Al-Assad Airbase in western Iraq, vowing retaliation

The White House has expressed deep concern over the recent attack by Iran-backed militants on the Al-Assad Airbase in western Iraq, hosting U.S. forces. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, involved the firing of multiple ballistic missiles and rockets, according to the U.S. military.

White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer emphasized the severity of the attack during an appearance on ABC’s This Week, stating, “It was a very serious attack, using a capability of ballistic missiles that posed a genuine threat. We are going to respond to establish deterrence in these situations and to hold these groups accountable that continue to attack us. You can be assured that we are taking this extremely seriously.”

The Pentagon confirmed that most of the projectiles aimed at the base were intercepted by air defense systems. However, the attack resulted in one reported Iraqi casualty and possible American casualties.

Tensions in the region have been escalating since mid-October, with numerous attacks targeting the approximately 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and around 900 in Syria, part of a coalition fighting against jihadists of the Islamic State group. The “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups opposing U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza conflict, has claimed responsibility for most of these incidents.

The use of ballistic missiles in this latest attack marks an escalation, as previous assaults were carried out with lower-tech rockets and drones. The incident adds to the already heightened tensions in the Middle East, coinciding with the ongoing Israel-Hamas war since October 7.

The White House has vowed a response, aiming to establish deterrence and hold the responsible groups accountable for their actions. The situation continues to be closely monitored as diplomatic and security measures are considered in response to this serious provocation.

Source: AFP