For the first time since October 17, a US base was targeted by a ballistic missile in Iraq

The US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced on Tuesday that its forces were targeted by a ballistic missile for the first time since attacks on US forces in Syria and Iraq began on 17 October.

The Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq came under attack early on Tuesday morning, causing minor injuries and damage to infrastructure, a US military official told Reuters.

Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7, the frequency of attacks against American forces in the Middle East has increased.

The Pentagon stressed that the United States will respond to attacks against its forces at the appropriate time and place, after a military aircraft managed to kill militants targeting Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq on Monday evening .

Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said at a news conference: “Since October 17, American forces have been subjected to approximately 66 strikes, including 32 in Iraq and 34 in Syria.”

He added: “62 American soldiers were injured as a result of these attacks, not including last night’s attack.”

Singh said at a press conference: “The militants were targeted by an AC-130 aircraft which was able to determine the source of the ballistic missile launch at the base.”

He added: “The aircraft was able to monitor the movement of the militants as they headed towards the car, and so we were able to respond to the attack,” stressing that “this latest attack was not planned in advance.”

In response to a question about why Iran, which supports groups attacking American forces in the region, did not target him, Singh said: “The United States is focused on not expanding the conflict regionally.” .

He explained: “We do not want attacks on our forces and we do not want an expansion of the conflict regionally. We are confident that the targets we have chosen are appropriate because we know that Iran supports these groups. Therefore, we are targeting some weapons depots and they are destroying them completely, but at the same time we want to contain this conflict.” We will always respond to attacks at the appropriate time and place.”