Missile attack near US base in Iraq: One person killed, eight wounded

A rocket attack on the zone near the international airport in Irbil in northern Iraq, where the US military base is located, killed one civilian employed by an American company that works for the military, and wounded at least eight people, including one member of the US military, Iraqi and coalition forces said. officials.

At least three rockets fell last night in the area between a civilian airport in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq and a nearby base where US troops are stationed.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The rockets were launched from an area south of Irbil near the border with Kirkuk province and fell on residential areas near the airport.

One civilian entrepreneur working for the international coalition led by the United States of America (USA) was killed and five people were wounded, coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Maroto said in a statement posted on social media.

He added that one member of the American military was also wounded.

At least two civilians were wounded in the rocket attacks and material damage was caused to vehicles and other objects, security officials said.

Iraqi President Barham Saleh condemned the attack, saying it was a serious escalation.

Kurdish authorities have warned residents of Irbil to stay away from the area where the rockets fell and to stay in their homes, according to a statement from the interior ministry.

Attacks targeting the airport in Irbil are rare, and last night's was the first in the area in the last five months.

Rocket attacks were often carried out on places where Americans are stationed in Baghdad, including the embassy, ​​as well as convoys carrying supplies for the US-led coalition. The frequency of attacks decreased at the end of last year ahead of the inauguration of US President Joe Biden. The US under the previous administration of Donald Trump blamed Iran-backed groups for the attacks. Tensions rose when Washington carried out a drone strike that killed Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani and powerful militant leader Abu Mahdi Al Munandis last year. US forces have been significantly reduced in Iraq, now numbering 2.500 troops, and they are no longer participating in combat missions with Iraqi forces in operations against the Islamic State group.

Blinken: We will demand that the perpetrators be held accountable

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken asked for an investigation into the rocket attack on the US military base in Ibril, in Iraqi Kurdistan, and pointed out that Washington will demand that the perpetrators "account."

"We are outraged by the rocket attack on the Iraqi region of Kurdistan," said the head of American diplomacy last night.

In a statement, he stated that he contacted the prime minister of the Kurdish regional government, Masrur Barzani, and told him that the US is providing all support to investigate the attack, as well as demanding that those responsible "bring accounts".