Katyusha Rocket Hits US Troop Base Near Iraqi Airport

Illustration of the United States military in Iraq. (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/Petty Officer 2nd Class Eli J. Medellin)

JAKARTA - A Katyusha rocket hit an Iraqi military base housing US troops near Baghdad's international airport, Iraq on Wednesday, local military and security sources said.

An Iraqi military statement said they found a rocket launcher with one rocket in the al-Jihad district of western Baghdad near the airport.

However, sources said that no one was injured in the rocket attack incident, citing Reuters on January 5.

Meanwhile, US officials have warned in recent weeks that they expect an increase in attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria, in part because of the second anniversary of the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the recent attacks, Iraqi militia groups allied to Iran have vowed to retaliate for killing Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Wednesday's attack was the second this week to target a base near Baghdad's international airport, after attacks by two drones were thwarted on Monday.

Two explosive-laden drones were also shot down on Tuesday by Iraqi air defenses as they approached the Ain al-Asad airbase, which houses US troops, west of Baghdad.

To note, Soleimani and al-Muhandis were killed on January 3, 2020, in a drone strike near Baghdad airport ordered by the then US, Donald Trump.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday Donald Trump must stand trial for the killing or Tehran will seek revenge. Earlier, Iranian judicial officials had communicated with authorities in nine countries after identifying 127 suspects in the case, including 74 US citizens, Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri told state television.

"The former criminal president (Trump) is at the top of the list," he said.