Military Base Hosting US Troops Comes Under Mortar Attack in Iraq

News about the assault comes amid rising tensions in the region, as Washington accused Iran of attacking several tankers in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month.

Iraq’s military said in a statement that militants attacked the Balad Air Base north of Baghdad on Saturday, firing three mortar shells. No casualties have been reported, however, the attack caused small fires, which were extinguished immediately.

According to AP, citing an anonymous security officer that American trainers are stationed at Balad air base.

The attack comes just a month after the US put its facilities in the Middle Eastern country on alert, ordering all non-emergency government employees to leave Iraq.