U.S. forces in Iraq conducted defensive airstrikes in Musaib, Babil province, on Tuesday evening, a U.S. military official confirmed to Fox News.
Officials said the attack was carried out at 5pm ET and targeted a militant attempting to launch a Unilateral Attack Unmanned Aerial System (OWAUAS).
“Based on recent attacks in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Central Command has assessed that the OWAUAS poses a threat to U.S. and coalition forces,” the official told Fox News. “This action underscores the United States’ commitment to the safety and security of our personnel. We reserve the inherent right of self-defense and will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
Rockets fired at US troops at Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq
FILE – Iraqi security forces at Ain al-Asad air base. U.S. forces carried out defensive airstrikes in Musaib, Babil province on Tuesday evening. (Reuters/Tayer Al Sudani)
The attack came after four rockets were fired last week near Ain al-Assad air base, where US troops are stationed.
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A US defense official told Fox News that no injuries were reported in the July 25 attack and that no rockets landed inside the base.
FILE: U.S. soldiers remove debris at Ain al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province in western Iraq. Four rockets landed near the air base on July 25, but no injuries were reported and no damage was done to the base, Fox News confirmed. (Ayman Hena)
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Iranian-backed forces in Iraq have targeted U.S. military bases in the country dozens of times since the start of the Iraq war. Israel-Gaza War It slowed from February onwards before recovering in October.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin and Fox News Digital’s Bree Stimson contributed to this report.
