New Delhi: Amid the regional tensions that erupted over the Israel Hamas conflict, drones and rockets targeted two military bases housing US troops in Iraq on Thursday, news agency Reuters reported. The air attack came after Iraqi militants warned United States against intervening to support Israel.
The missiles and drones targeted the Ain al-Asad air base and multiple blasts were heard inside the base, security officials told the news agency.
Two rockets were fired at the US troops at the airport. While one was intercepted, the other hit an empty storage facility. However, no casualties were reported, a US official told the news agency on condition of anonymity.
According to reports, in a bid to boost Israel’s maritime strength, the US has deployed its naval power, which includes aircraft carriers, warships and naval personnel, in West Asia.
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With the latest attack on the military bases, the total number of such air strikes on US forces reached four in the last 24 hours.
Earlier on Wednesday, in two other drone attacks, a small number of troops suffered minor injuries, while the other armed drone was intercepted.
"While I'm not going to forecast any potential responses to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told the media earlier this week.
"Any response, should one occur, will come at a time in a manner of our choosing," he added.
The Pentagon spokesperson also said three “land-attack cruise missiles and several drones" were launched from Yemen "potentially toward targets in Israel."
He further said the US military has the capability to stop the escalation of regional tensions and “broader expansion of the conflict that began with Hamas' attack on Israeli civilians."