An Iraqi F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft, assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron, takes off prior to performing a Close Air Support Mission at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on June 17, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - At least five rockets hit the Iraqi military air base of Balad north of Baghdad on Monday, without causing casualties, Iraqi security officials said.
The Iraqi military said two additional rockets fell outside the Balad air base and caused damage to a civilian house, with no casualties reported. No group immediately claimed the attack, but armed groups that some Iraqi officials have said are backed by Iran have claimed similar incidents in the past.
Several rocket attacks last month on the Erbil International Airport compound killed a contractor working with U.S. forces at the military base part of the compound and wounded eight civilian contractors and one U.S. service member.
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WNU Editor: Iran is denying any involvement in these rocket attacks .... Iran tells UN it was not behind attacks on US interests in Iraq (Al Jazeera).
Update: Good question (see below).
Why are US troops still in Iraq to have rockets launched at them? https://t.co/liIBTzhvFQ
— Jeffrey St. Clair (@JSCCounterPunch) March 15, 2021
Rockets Fired at Balad Air Base in Iraq -- Military.com
7 rockets target Iraq base housing US troops: security source -- Arab News/AFP
7 rockets target Iraq base housing US troops; 5 hit nearby village -- Times of Israel