BAGHDAD (AP) – At least 10 missiles were aimed at a military base in western Iraq that houses US-led coalition forces on Wednesday, the coalition and the Iraqi military said. It was not immediately known whether there were any casualties.
The missiles hit Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province at 7:20 a.m., spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto said.
Later, the Iraqi military issued a statement saying that the attack had caused no significant losses and that security forces had found the launch pad used for the missiles. An Iraqi military official said they were found in the al-Baghdadi area of Anbar, speaking on the condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to brief the media.
It was the first attack since the US hit Iranian militias along the Iraq-Syria border last week, killing a militiamen, raising fears of a possible repeat of a series of tit-for-tat attacks that escalated last year and culminated in the US-led drone attack that killed Iranian General Qassim Soleimani outside Baghdad airport.
Wednesday’s attack targeted the same base where Iran hit with a barrage of missiles in January last January in retaliation for Soleimani’s murder. Dozens of US soldiers were injured and suffered concussions during that attack.
Denmark, which also has troops on the base, condemned the attack, saying that coalition forces are present in Ain al-Asad at the invitation of the Iraqi government to bring stability and security to the country.
“Despicable attacks on Ain al-Asad base in # Iraq are completely unacceptable,” tweeted Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod. Danish forces said two Danes, who were in the camp at the time of the attack, are unharmed.
Wednesday’s attack comes two days before Pope Francis will visit Iraq in a highly anticipated journey that will include Baghdad, southern Iraq and the northern city of Irbil.
Last week’s US attack along the border was in response to a wave of missile strikes targeting the US presence, including one that killed a Philippines coalition contractor outside Irbil airport.
Following that attack, the Pentagon said the attack was a “proportional military response,” taken after consultation with coalition partners.
Marotto said Iraqi security forces were investigating the attack on Ain al-Asad.
US forces in Iraq significantly reduced their presence in the country under the Trump administration last year. The armed forces withdrew from several Iraqis around the country to mainly consolidate in Ain al-Asad and Baghad.
Frequent rocket attacks on the heavily fortified Green Zone, where the US embassy is located, during President Donald Trump’s tenure frustrated the administration, leading to threats of embassy closure and escalating attacks.
Associated Press writer Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark contributed to this report.