[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A U.S. military base in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, was hit by a rocket attack, injuring five people, including three Iraqi soldiers and two foreign staff members. It is presumed to be a terrorist act carried out by Shiite armed groups in Iraq demanding the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq following the announcement of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
According to foreign media including AFP on the 18th (local time), a rocket attack on Balad Air Base in northern Baghdad, where U.S. troops are stationed, injured three Iraqi soldiers and two foreign staff members. AFP reported that two rockets landed inside the base, striking the accommodation and cafeteria of Sallyport, a U.S. security services company.
The perpetrators have not yet been identified, but the attack is presumed to have been carried out by Shiite armed groups in Iraq. Recently, these groups have continued rocket attacks following the Biden administration's announcement of the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan. They are demanding that all U.S. troops stationed in Iraq withdraw completely, just as in Afghanistan.
Earlier, the Biden administration declared on the 14th that the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan would begin on May 1 and be completed by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Since President Biden took office, about 20 bomb and rocket attacks demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops have been recorded at U.S. military bases in Iraq.
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