#BREAKING: @AlMonitor Pentagon corespondent @JackDetsch_ALM reports Al-Assad Airbase in Iraq (housing US troops) has been hit by 6 rockets, casualties unclear
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) January 7, 2020
More rockets incoming at Al-Asad beyond the first six, a defense official tells me. t.co/zwtewJA0n0
— Jack Detsch (@JackDetsch_ALM) January 7, 2020
Breaking: A US Defense official has confirmed that rockets targeted Ain al-Assad airbase, which hosts US troops, in Iraq. VOA is reporting that up to 30 rockets have been fired at the base.
— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) January 7, 2020
🚨 #BREAKING 🇺🇸 US Ain Alasad is being hit according to a military source. t.co/GDVu5scwr5
— INTELSky (@Intel_Sky) January 7, 2020
Just to be clear nearly every base in Iraq and Afghanistan has been rocket semi-routinely for about 20 years for those that just now choose to pay attention to these wars. Thanks.
— Objective Reality (@ObjectvReality) January 7, 2020
United States airbase Al Asad in Iraq has been fired at by up to 10 rockets.
The military complex is located in western Iraq and used by Iraqi and United States armed forces. It is also often used by UK forces.
The attack has been confirmed by US defence personnel to The Washington Post, while reporters from The New York Times and BBC have also tweeted about it.
The New York Times reporter Farnaz Fassihi has tweeted a statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): “We warn all allied countries of the US that if attacks are launched from bases in their countries on Iran, they will be a target of military retaliation.”
The Guardian reports a statement from IRGC: “The brave soldiers of IRGC’s aerospace unit have launched a successful attack with tens of ballistic missiles on Al Assad military base in the name of martyr Gen. Qassem Soleimani.”
Iranian state television has also said Iran is behind the attack.
Newshub asked Defence Minister Ron Mark about the airstrike but he hadn’t yet been briefed on it so wouldn’t comment.
Speaking about the recent tension between Iran and the United States, and the effect on New Zealand troops in Iraq, Mark said: “We would not comment on troop movements for security reasons”.
“All I’d say is that we are as always very clear about our responsibility to maintain good situational awareness around security. We have stringent security measures in place in terms of force protection.
“We will continue to talk to Coalition partners. We will continue to collaborate alongside of them and we will make our decisions based on the situation at the time.”
He said it was a time for “cool heads and calm” and that the Iraqi government had no asked new Zealand to withdraw.
www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/01/united-states-airbase-in-iraq-under-attack-reports.html
BREAKING: Footage of Iran attack on US base Al Assad in Iraq.#AlAssad #Iraq pic.twitter.com/8CtLpgnsw6
— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) January 7, 2020
#BREAKING: Iran Revolutionary Guards begin "fierce revenge" on US. Iranian ballistic missiles hit Al Assad military base in #Iraq, largest US base.
And It Begins.#Soleimani— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) January 7, 2020
AC