A coalition military base near Baghdad, Camp Taji, sustained damage from roughly 18 small rockets at 7:35 pm local time. Two Americans–a soldier and a contractor–and one British soldier were killed in the attack. Local reports indicate that 12 other soldiers were also injured, including a Polish service member.
Thus far, noone has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The US currently has roughly 6,000 troops stationed in Iraq, supporting the nation’s security forces. This latest event follows Sunday's attack, during which two Marines were killed in a battle against the Islamic State. In fact, it is the 22nd attack on the US military since October 2019.
Camp Taji hosts coalition personnel for training and advising missions. The camp has prevously been attacked by Iranian-backed militias, such as Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iraqi branch of the Lebanese Shiite organization.
Tensions have been especially high since 2019. Late last year, the Kirkuk military based sustained fire, resulting in the death of an American. In response, the US army struck five bases in Iraq and Syria used by the Kataib Hezbollah.
The situation reached a boiling point in early January after a US drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Kataib Hezbollah's head, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Shortly after the Camp Taji attack, airstrikes were reported in eastern Syria against Iranian-backed militias, killing at least 18 Iraqis. As of now, it is unclear whether this was a retaliatory strike by the US.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the perpetrators would be held "accountable".
Image Source: The Times of Israel
18 Rockets Strike Coalition Military Base Near Baghdad, 2 Americans and 1 Briton Killed
March 12, 2020
