4 injured after rockets hit Iraqi airbase housing US troops
Baghdad,
Jan
13:
Several
rockets
have
slammed
into
an
Iraqi
airbase
where
US
forces
were
based.
Four
local
troops
have
been
injured
in
the
strike,
the
Iraqi
military
said.
Eight
Katyusha-type
rockets
landed
on
the
Al-Balad
airbase,
wounding
two
Iraqi
officers
and
two
airmen.
The base is the main airbase for Iraq's F-16s, which it had purchased from the US to upgrade its air capabilities. The base also held a small US Air Force continent. However, a majority of the US forces had been evacuated following tensions with Iran in the past two weeks.
The military bases housing IS forces have been hit by a volley of rockets and mortar attacks in the past two weeks. The pro-Iran forces have vowed revenge after the US killed its top General, Qassem Soleimani.
Green Zone in Iraq hit by two rockets
Meanwhile, ran has signalled that de-escalation is the only solution to solve the crisis with the United States.
The statement by Iran comes in the wake of a passenger aircraft that was accidentally shot down. Security has been stepped up in Iran after a vigil the previous night for those killed in the air disaster. Iran temporarily arrested the British ambassador for being part of the protest against the tragedy.
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Meanwhile, US President, Donald Trump tweeted, 'don't kill your protesters. On the other hand, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said that Trump was still willing to sit down and discuss without a pre-condition a new way forward with Iran. Tehran has however refused any dialogue until sanctions are lifted.
Iran missile attacks: Iran gave Iraq a heads-up before firing 22 missiles at US forces on its soil
In a meeting between Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and the visiting emir of Qatar, it was decided that de-escalation was the only way forward.