Rockets Fired At Iraq's Ain al-Asad Air Base Housing US Forces, Several Injured

Washington: Several US personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack at a military base in Iraq, US defence officials said Monday, in what has been a recent uptick in strikes on American forces by Iranian-backed militias.

attack comes as tensions across Middle East are spiking following killings last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Leban and Hamas' top political leer in Iran, in suspected Israeli strikes. Both groups are backed by Iran.

US defence officials said troops at al-As air base were still assessing injuries and dam, and it appeared that as many as seven military troops and civilians were injured. Earlier Monday, Iraqi security officials confirmed attack, but group has claimed responsibility.

American officials said US looked into reports of a possible second attack at base but determined re h t been ar one.

officials spoke on condition of anymity to discuss military operations. White House said president and vice president were briefed on attack.

In recent weeks, Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have resumed launching attacks on bases housing US forces in Iraq and Syria after a lull of several months, following a strike on a base in Jordan in late January that killed three American soldiers and prompted a series of retaliatory US strikes.

Between October and January, an umbrella group calling itself Islamic Resistance in Iraq h regularly claimed attacks that it said were in retaliation for Washington's support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and were aimed at pushing US troops out of region.

(Except for heline, Republic has t edited content)