US confirms 7 injured in attack on base in Iraq

Washington — The United States has evacuated two people from an air base in Iraq for additional medical care following a rocket attack Monday that injured seven. 

A U.S. defense official on Tuesday said all seven — five servicemembers and two contractors — were wounded after two rockets slammed into the Ain al-Asad base in Western Iraq. 

The official said all seven are in stable condition but that two people were taken for “further care.” 

“Post-strike assessments are still ongoing,” the official said. “We’ll continue to provide updates as they become available.” 

There has been no claim of responsibility for the rocket attack, which came as much of the region awaits a possible attack by Iran and its proxies against Israel in retaliation for the killing of senior members of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Hamas terror groups. 

But the Iraqi military on Tuesday said it found the truck and rocket launcher used in the attack in the nearby town of Haditha. 

It also said it was getting closer to finding the perpetrators. 

“They are currently being pursued to bring them to justice," the statement said. 

“We reject all reckless actions and practices targeting Iraqi bases, diplomatic missions, and the whereabouts of the international coalition's advisers, and everything that would raise tension in the region,” the Iraqi statement added. 

Iraq hosts about 2,500 U.S. troops who have been tasked with advising and assisting Iraqi forces as they pursue the remnants of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, or Daesh. 

But Iraq is also home to numerous Iranian-backed militias, some of which have been consulting with Tehran about the anticipated retaliation against Israel. 

Additionally, there has been periodic tension between Washington and Baghdad. 

The U.S. and Iraq have been engaged in recent, ongoing talks to eventually end the anti-IS mission and transition to what officials have described as a bilateral military partnership. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Sunday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. 

Blinken “emphasized the importance of all parties taking steps to calm regional tensions, avoid further escalation, and advance stability,” according to a U.S. readout of the call. 

Some information from Reuters was used in this report.