Ain Al Asad airbase in the western Anbar desert, Iraq, which US troops share with Iraqi forces. AP
Ain Al Asad airbase in the western Anbar desert, Iraq, which US troops share with Iraqi forces. AP
Ain Al Asad airbase in the western Anbar desert, Iraq, which US troops share with Iraqi forces. AP
Ain Al Asad airbase in the western Anbar desert, Iraq, which US troops share with Iraqi forces. AP

US personnel injured in rocket attack on Ain Al Asad airbase in Iraq


Ellie Sennett
  • English
  • Arabic

Five US personnel were injured on Monday in what is believed to be a rocket attack against Ain Al Asad airbase, which houses American and coalition forces in Iraq, a representative of the US Defence Department told The National.

"Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment," the official said. "We will provide updates as more information becomes available."

Reuters, which first reported the attack, said two rockets were launched towards the base.

Images on social media appeared to show smoke from the rockets being launched. Early on Tuesday, a previously unheard-of group calling themselves the Revolutionaries claimed responsibility at the attack.

Iraq said on Tuesday it rejects all "reckless" actions that target Iraqi bases, diplomatic missions, and US-led coalition outposts.

A large number of attacks in Iraq in recent years have been claimed by new militia organisations, as opposed to established powerful groups within the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a government-backed but largely Iran-aligned umbrella group of militias.

Experts say many of these new groups are simply front organisations for US-designated terrorist organisations such as Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al Haq, now within the PMF.

They are blamed by the US and UK for hundreds of fatal attacks on their troops, and by rights groups for killing civilians over years of conflict.

After a long pause during negotiations between the government in Baghdad and the US to arrange a departure of American forces from Iraq, the groups have resumed attacks on US troops, who share the vast Aid Al Asad base with Iraqi forces.

The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed earlier in the day on the national security situation in the region, with a focus on "threats posed by Iran and its proxies to Israel and to US service members in the region".

Mike McCaul, the Republican chairman of the US House foreign affairs committee, said he was "deeply troubled" to learn that US service members had been injured.

"This is just the latest in a long series of attacks from Iran and its proxies," Mr McCaul said in a statement.

"More must be done by this administration to protect our troops in the region."

The attack comes amid heightened regional tension after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which has been blamed on Israel.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the killing, but did claim the assassination of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.

The latest attack occurred hours after Mr Biden spoke to Jordan's King Abdullah II by phone.

King Abdullah stressed "the need to de-escalate" and "reach a comprehensive calm" that prevents a wider regional war, Amman said in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also urged de-escalation, even as Washington has posted warships in the region in preparation for a spillover.

After a months-long pause in Iran-backed attacks against US coalition forces in the region after the start of the Israel-Gaza war, strikes began again in July when forces intercepted another two drones bound for Ain Al Asad.

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at Washington's Middle East Institute, said a response from the US after that one attack in July is unlikely, but that could change "if there are more to come".

Three US soldiers were killed by a drone attack by an Iran-backed Iraqi militia on a US base in north-eastern Jordan in January.

That led to US retaliatory strikes on dozens of targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iraq and Syria.

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RESULTS

5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

6.30pm: Handicap |  Dh85,000 |  2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap |  Dh70,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) |  Dh100,000 |  1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press

Players Selected for La Liga Trials

U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian

Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco

Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French

Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian

U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Huddersfield Town permanent signings:

  • Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
  • Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
  • Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
  • Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
  • Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
  • Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
  • Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
  • Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Match info

Huddersfield Town 0

Chelsea 3
Kante (34'), Jorginho (45' pen), Pedro (80')

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

The biog

Favourite film: The Notebook  

Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey

Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela.           Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands

Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends

Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl

Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule

Friday

First practice, 1pm 
Second practice, 5pm

Saturday

Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm

Sunday

Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm

SERIES SCHEDULE

First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6

MATCH INFO

Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Uefa Champions League play-off, first leg
Location: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
Kick-off: Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)

CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Race card

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m

7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m

9.25pm: Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m

10.35pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

The National selections

6.30pm: Shahm, 7.05pm: Well Of Wisdom, 7.40pm: Lucius Tiberius, 8.15pm: Captain Von Trapp, 8.50pm: Secret Advisor, 9.25pm: George Villiers, 10pm: American Graffiti, 10.35pm: On The Warpath

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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Copa del Rey

Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)

Score

Third Test, Day 1

New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat

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Updated: August 06, 2024, 10:36 AM