Rockets Hit Iraqi Base Hosting US Contractors, One Iraqi Injured, Security Officials Say

Iraqi forces search the area in Tarmiyah, 35 kilometres (20 miles) north of Baghdad, on Feb. 20, 2021. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)

TIKRIT, Iraq—Several rockets hit the Iraqi military air base of Balad north of Baghdad on Saturday, injuring one Iraqi contractor, Iraqi security officials said on Saturday.

No group immediately claimed the attack. It was the second salvo of rockets to hit a base hosting U.S. forces or contractors in less than a week.

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The Iraqi military said four rockets hit the base. Iraqi security officials initially said three rockets had hit and told Reuters the contractor had suffered non-lethal injuries.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media.

Armed groups that are backed by Iran have claimed similar incidents in the past, including an attack last week on the Erbil International Airport compound. The attack killed a civilian contractor working with U.S. forces at a coalition military base.

Iran-aligned paramilitary groups demand that all foreign troops, including U.S. forces who number around 2,500 in Iraq, leave the country after battling ISIS extremism together.

A U.S.-led coalition, whose mission is to fight ISIS extremists, is still stationed in Iraq, as well as a NATO-led mission that trains Iraqi security forces.