Rocket attack on Iraqi airbase where US defense company operates
At least 4 rockets struck an airbase in Balad, north of Baghdad, on Saturday, the Iraqi navy stated in an announcement. Other officers stated one individual was wounded on the base where a US defense company companies fight plane.
The attack got here days after greater than a dozen rockets targeted coalition forces exterior Erbil worldwide airport, in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq. That attack killed one coalition contractor and wounded 9. Iraqi and Kurdish residents have been additionally severely injured.
On Saturday, 4 safety officers stated the person wounded on the airbase in Salahaddin province labored for the US company, and one stated his nationality was South African. Other reviews stated the contractor was Iraqi. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity, in keeping with laws.
They stated the US defense company Sallyport has its headquarters throughout the airbase, and has 46 personnel contracted to supply base companies to help Iraq’s F-16 program.
Just a little-known Shia militant group, Saraya Awliya al-Dam, Arabic for Guardians of Blood Brigade, claimed accountability for the attack.
Armed teams that some Iraqi officers say are backed by Iran have claimed such incidents previously. Iran-aligned paramilitary teams demand that each one international troops, together with US forces, who quantity about 2,500 in Iraq, go away the nation, calling their presence an occupation.
US-led coalition troops have progressively decreased their presence in Iraq during the last 12 months. Saturday’s attack got here after Nato introduced it could scale up its mission in Iraq from 500 personnel to 4,000, in an effort to battle the remnants of the Islamic State group, in response to feedback from the secretary basic, Jens Stoltenberg, this week.
Nato’s coaching mission was launched in 2018 to assist the conflict-ravaged nation develop new academies and navy faculties for its armed forces. It was initially situated within the capital, Baghdad, and in neighboring Jordan.
