U.S. troops stationed at a military base in Iraq were attacked on Wednesday with a barrage of Katyusha rockets that landed inside the base.
“According to an Iraqi officer, an Iraqi base housing U.S. troops in the western Anbar province was hit with five Katyusha rockets on Wednesday evening; three other rockets fell outside the base’s parameter,” the Associated Press reported. “The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said U.S.-led coalition forces at the base were forced into shelters by the barrage.”
Sources said that there was no immediate sign of any significant damage or causalities from the attacks.
U.S. officials have warned recently of attacks from Iranian-backed proxies in retaliation for U.S. forces killing Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, in 2020.
“Two explosive-laden drones were shot down on Tuesday by Iraq’s air defenses as they approached the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. forces,” Reuters reported. “A similar attack was foiled on Monday, when Iraqi air defenses downed two drones as they approached a base hosting U.S. forces near Baghdad’s international airport.”
The attacks come as the Biden administration desperately tries to get Iran to reenter a controversial nuclear agreement that critics say did little-to-nothing to stop Iran from being able to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett signaled to the world late last year that Israel was preparing to take action against Iran as it rapidly neared the point of having enough nuclear material to build a nuclear bomb, something that he vowed Israel would never allow to happen.
During his speech at the U.N., Bennett warned that Iran was behind much of the turmoil and violence that has plagued the Middle East and that the nation, which is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, was not just a regional problem, but a global one.
“Iran’s nuclear weapon program is at a critical point. All red lines have been crossed. Inspections — ignored. All wishful-thinking — proven false,” he said. “Iran is currently violating the IAEAs safeguard agreements — and it’s getting away with it. They harass inspectors and sabotage their investigations — and they’re getting away with it. They enrich Uranium to the level of 60 percent, which is only one step short of weapons-grade material — and they’re getting away with it.”
“Evidence which clearly proves Iran’s intentions for nuclear weapons in secret sites in Turquzabad, Teheran & Marivan — is ignored,” he continued. “Iran’s nuclear program has hit a watershed moment. And so has our tolerance.”
“Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning. There are those in the world who seem to view Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons as an inevitable reality, as a done deal, or they’ve just become tired of hearing about it,” Bennett added. “Israel doesn’t have that privilege. We cannot tire. We will not tire. Israel will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.”
This report has been updated to include additional information.