A base in Baghdad where U.S. military staff was housed has been hit by an airstrike, leaving two Americans and one British national killed, USA Today reported.
A U.S. military spokesperson in Iraq confirmed three military coalition personnel died in the assault late Wednesday and that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraq’s Camp Taji base. In a statement, Army Col. Myles Caggins did not provide further details but the Associated Press and other outlets reported that the attack killed a U.S. soldier, a U.S. contractor and a member of Britain’s armed forces.
While Iran or its proxies have not claimed responsibility, Iran’s firing of ballistic missiles into two Iraqi military bases in January where American soldiers were based brought Washington and Tehran to the brink of war.
The U.S. has about 5,000 troops supporting Iraq’s security forces and American troops regularly come under fire in Iraq from Iran-backed militants such as Kataib Hezbollah or another Shia militia group. Caggins said an investigation is ongoing and that next of kin were being informed. However, the attack came on the same day the House approved a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from launching a military attack against Iran without explicit congressional authorization.
The measure follows increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran after the Pentagon killed senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in January, leading to a retaliatory strike by Iran on another military base in Iraq hosting U.S. troops. That attack left dozens of U.S. soldiers with brain injuries.
Wednesday’s attack coincided with what would have been Soleimani’s birthday.
Iraq has also opened an investigation.
Two U.S. Marines were killed Sunday while advising and accompanying Iraqi security forces. The military said the two were killed during a mission to eliminate a stronghold for the Islamic State group in a mountainous area of Iraq.
Iran claims revenge for Qasem Soleimani’s killing. US Navy is still a target
The House resolution now goes to the White House, where Trump is expected to veto it. The President said it would undermine U.S. security and “show weakness.”
Supporters do not have the two-thirds supermajority needed to override a veto.
But Wednesday’s 227-to-186 vote still marked a rare bipartisan effort to curb Trump’s war powers and underscored lawmakers’ lingering concerns that U.S. tensions with Iran could escalate into a full-fledged war. Six Republicans joined 220 Democrats in supporting the war powers resolution. The measure cleared the Senate last month with eight Republicans and all Democrats voting yes.
Be the first to comment