Two Rockets Land at US Military-Stationed Iraqi Airbase

"No Confirmation on Human and Facility Damage"

As Iran declared retaliatory attacks against Israel, raising concerns of an escalation in the Middle East, two rockets were fired at an Iraqi airbase where U.S. troops are stationed on the 5th (local time).

According to foreign media on the day, two Katyusha rockets landed inside the Ain al-Asad airbase located in western Iraq. U.S. troops and other Western forces are stationed at this location.

It has not been confirmed whether there were any casualties or damage to facilities within the base due to this attack.

Following the clashes between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and the recent assassination of Hamas's top political leader Ismail Haniyeh within Iranian territory, the risk of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran is escalating. In response, the United States is strengthening its military readiness in the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved on the 2nd the deployment of several Navy cruisers and destroyers equipped with ballistic missile defense capabilities to the Middle East and Europe. He also ordered the dispatch of an additional squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East. Furthermore, Secretary Austin directed the deployment of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln strike group to maintain a carrier strike group presence in the Middle East.