Base Used by US Troops Attacked in Iraq // FAI ONLINE

Archival photo of a previous rocket attack on Camp Taji in January, 2020.. (Credit: AP News)

US military and Iraqi government spokespersons have confirmed a Katyusha rocket attack on Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, Iraq, on Monday evening. The Iraqi army base also houses US troops, vehicles and weapons, and is one of the main airbases used by US warplanes in ongoing support of the anti-ISIS Operation Inherent Resolve. No Iraqi or American casualties were incurred, although an Iraqi military helicopter and a weapons storehouse were reportedly damaged or destroyed. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack as of yet, although it fits the profile of attacks by Iranian-linked militias on Coalition bases in the past, included 2 rocket attacks earlier this year on Camp Taji. One of those attacks resulted in 3 US casualties.

Minutes after the first attack, series of large explosions were reported at Camp Speicher near the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit. Speicher airbase previously housed US forces, but was vacated by the Coalition earlier this year. Some analysts are speculating at this point that the Iran-sponsored Kata'ib al-Imam Ali militia may have taken up residence in the base since then, and that the explosions may have been caused by a US or Iraqi airstrike in retaliation for the attack on Camp Taji. There was no statement from Coalition spokespersons regarding the Speicher attack except to confirm that US troops are no longer based there.

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The attacks come after a series of mysterious explosions inside of Iraq over the last 30 days, which have damaged Iranian nuclear and missile programs. Those attacks have been widely attributed to a clandestine campaign by Israeli and American intelligence services.

This story is still developing, and this post will be revised and augmented as more information is published and confirmed. In the meantime, we ask our readers to pray for Coalition forces and the people of Iraq tonight, that the aggressors would be restrained from carrying out any more attacks, and that those responsible for murderous designs and schemes would be exposed and prevented from carrying out their plans.

Maranatha.