Rocket Attack Hits US Military Base in Syria from Iraq

Five rockets were reportedly fired from Iraq’s Zummar town towards a US military base in northeastern Syria on Sunday, as per two Iraqi security sources cited by Reuters. This marks the first attack on US forces since early February when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq ceased their assaults against them.

The incident follows Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s recent return from the United States, where he met President Joe Biden at the White House. According to two security sources and a senior army officer, a rocket launcher mounted on a small truck was stationed in Zummar near the Syrian border.

A military official disclosed that the truck caught fire and exploded, possibly due to unfired rockets, coinciding with the presence of warplanes in the sky. However, the official emphasized the need for investigation before confirming whether the truck was targeted by US warplanes, citing the sensitivity of the situation.

Iraqi security forces swiftly mobilized in the area to pursue the fleeing perpetrators, who reportedly escaped using another vehicle, according to a security official based in Zummar. An army officer revealed that the truck was confiscated for further examination, suggesting initial findings indicating destruction by an airstrike.

The officer stated ongoing communication with coalition forces in Iraq to exchange information regarding the attack. This incident comes on the heels of a significant explosion at an Iraqi military base on Saturday, resulting in the death of a member of an Iraqi security force comprising Iran-backed groups. While the force commander labeled it as an attack, the army is investigating, denying the presence of warplanes during the explosion.

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