Iraq rocket attack kills contractor, wounds USA service member, coalition says
- par Thibaud Popelin
- dans Monde
- — Fév 16, 2021
It's the first time in 2 months that U.S. installations have been targeted in Iraq.
A civilian contractor has died, and a US service member and five more contractors have been injured, in an incident on a base used by the USA -led coalition in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil. Monday's attack was the first to strike the area in five months.
Under former US President Donald Trump, Washington had vowed that the killing of an American national in such a rocket attack would prompt a mass bombing campaign in Iraq, although Iraqi officials are unsure if the Biden administration would stick to the policy.
According to the report, the explosions were heard in the airport area.
"Three missiles fell in the area of Erbil worldwide airport, security officials were dispersed in the area", the broadcaster said, citing a source in the Iraqi security services.
One civilian contractor with the coalition was killed and five others wounded, a coalition spokesman, Col. Wayne Marotto, said in a statement posted on social media.
On Sept. 30, when six rockets hit near the airport.
Several civilians off base were also injured by rockets that fell near the base, Kurdistan Regional Government officials said separately.
Attacks targeting Irbil airport are rare.
Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the autonomous Kurdish region, condemned the attack "in the strongest terms". He did not identify the nationality of the contractors.
Two intelligence sources confirmed to AFP that the attack was carried out from within the autonomous Kurdish region.
Photos shared online also showed damaged cars, while other videos captured the sound of announcements at the U.S. Consulate General in Irbil telling personnel to seek cover away from windows and await further instructions.
The identity of the attackers was not immediately clear, and American forces are often targeted by forces including ISIS, but American officials including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have blamed Iran-backed groups for previous strikes on U.S. forces in recent years.
Around a dozen such groups have cropped up in the past year claiming rocket attacks, but U.S. and Iraqi security officials have told AFP they believe them to be front groups for prominent pro-Iran factions including Kataeb Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq.
U.S. forces have been significantly reduced in Iraq to 2,500 personnel and no longer partake in combat missions with Iraqi forces in ongoing operations against the Islamic State group. There was 1 civilian contractor killed, 5 civilian contractors injured and 1 U.S. service member injured.
The last deadly attack to target the coalition killed one British and two American personnel in March previous year.
Rocket attacks have frequently target the US presence in Baghdad, including the US Embassy, as well as convoys ferrying materials for the US-led coalition.
The Iraqi government facilitated an indefinite truce with hardline groups and the fire had come to a near halt.
In January a year ago, the top Iranian commander, Maj.
The latest attack came amid rising tensions in north Iraq, where neighbouring Turkey has been waging a fierce land and air assault against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) since June 2020. Kurdish authorities had blamed Shiite militia groups.
Attacks on bases housing US forces, often involving 107mm Katyusha rockets, have become a frequent occurrence in the past almost two years, particularly in and around Baghdad, where they have also hit civilian areas near military and diplomatic facilities.
