Washington [US], July 31: US officials announced on July 30 that they carried out an attack in Iraq in self-defense amid rising regional tensions following an Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah forces in Beirut, Lebanon.
The attack on a base south of Baghdad used by Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces ( PMF ) killed four people and wounded four others, Reuters reported, citing local police and medical sources. In a statement after the incident, the PMF did not allege who was responsible for the operation.
The US carried out an airstrike in Musayib, in Babil province south of Baghdad, US officials said on condition of anonymity, but did not provide details of the location. The US officials did not provide a specific casualty figure.
The officials added that the strike targeted forces that the US believed were attempting to launch drones and posed a threat to US and coalition forces in the region. "This action underscores the US commitment to the safety and security of our personnel," a US official said.
Multiple missiles were launched last week toward the Ain al-Asad air base , where U.S.-led forces are stationed, U.S. and Iraqi sources said. No damage or casualties were reported in that attack, U.S. officials said. None of the missiles hit the base.
The move was the first US attack in Iraq since February, when the US military conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran-aligned militias.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
