Five US personnel wounded in attack against base in Iraq, officials say

At least five US personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq on Monday, US officials told Reuters, as the Middle East braced for a possible new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following last week's killing of senior Hamas and Hezbollah members.

Two Katyusha rockets were fired at Al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, two Iraqi security sources said. One Iraqi security source said the rockets fell inside the base.

It was unclear whether the attack was linked to threats by Iran to retaliate over the killings.

On Wednesday, Iran said the US bears responsibility in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran because of its support for Israel.

The US officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said one of the wounded Americans was seriously injured. The casualty count was based on initial reports which could still change, they said.

"Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," one of the officials added.

Last week, the US carried out a strike in Iraq against individuals US officials said were militants getting ready to launch drones and posed a threat to US and coalition forces.

The US has been watching to see if Iran would make good on its vow to respond to the recent killing of Haniyeh in Tehran, one in a series of killings of senior figures in the Palestinian group as Israel's war on Gaza rages.

The Pentagon has said it will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East, as Washington seeks to bolster defences following threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.

A rare ally of both the US and Iran, Iraq hosts 2,500 US troops and has Iran-backed militias linked to its security forces.

It has witnessed escalating tit-for-tat attacks since the Gaza war erupted in October.

Iraq wants troops from the US-led military coalition to begin withdrawing in September and to formally end the coalition's work by September 2025, Iraqi sources have said, with some US forces likely to remain in a newly negotiated advisory capacity.

Baghdad has struggled to reign in Iran-backed armed groups that have attacked US forces there and in neighbouring Syria dozens of time since 7 October.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani spoke with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Sunday.

An Iraqi official said Blinken asked Sudani to help decrease regional tensions by helping to convince Iran to temper its response to the Israeli strike in Tehran that killed the leader of Hamas last week.

US Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, head of US Central Command, is currently in the Middle East.

One of the US officials said Kurilla was speaking with allies to ensure there was coordination in case of an Iranian attack against Israel.

(Reuters)