US Personnel Injured In Attack Against Military Base In Iraq Amid Middle East Tensions: Report

One of the five wounded US personnel was seriously injured in the attack, a US official told Reuters.

Five US personnel were injured in an attack at military base in Iraq. (Representational Image)

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At least five US personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq on Monday amid escalated tensions in the region after Iran and its allies vowed revenge against Ismail Haniyeh's killing. 

Two Katyusha rockets were fired at al Asad airbase in western Iraq, reported Reuters quoting its two Iraqi security sources. The rockets fell inside the base, the report stated, adding that it was not clear whether the attack was linked to threats by Iran. 

Iran has held the US responsible for the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran because it supported Israel. 

One of the five wounded US personnel was seriously injured in the attack, a US official told Reuters. "Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," one of the officials added.

While Iran has vowed revenge, it said it is not looking to escalate tensions but believes it needs to "punish" Israel to prevent further instability, said the foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday, as per a Reuters report. 

"Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only come with punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel)," Nasser Kanaani said, adding that action from Tehran was inevitable.

The spokesperson called on the United States to stop supporting Israel and denounced the international community for failing in its duty to safeguard stability in the region and said that it should support the "punishment of the aggressor."

On Monday, Iran's foreign ministry called in ambassadors and heads of missions residing in Tehran for a meeting with acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani to reiterate Iran's will to respond to Israel. 

At Iran's request, an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will be held on Wednesday to discuss the killing of Haniyeh and Iran's response, Kanaani said.