Rockets hit Iraqi base housing U.S. forces, wounding three - U.S. coalition

[July 07, 2021]  BAGHDAD (Reuters) -At least 14 rockets hit western Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base, host to U.S. and other international forces, on Wednesday, slightly wounding three people, a coalition spokesman said.

U.S. Army Colonel Wayne Marotto, spokesman for the U.S.-led international military coalition, tweeted that the rockets landed on the base and its perimeter.

The United States accuses Iranian-backed militia groups of launching regular rocket attacks against its troops in Iraq. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday's attack.

It came after at least three rockets landed on Ain al-Asad on Monday without causing casualties.

Iraqi army officials said the pace of recent attacks against U.S. bases with rockets and explosive-laden drones is unprecedented.

Iraqi military sources said a rocket launcher fixed on the back of a mini-truck was used in Wednesday's attack and was found on nearby farmland.

On Tuesday, a drone attacked Erbil airport in northern Iraq, targeting a U.S. base on the airport grounds, Kurdish security sources said.

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Nick Macfie)

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