Missile Attack on Al-Asad Airbase

Several U.S. personnel were injured in a missile attack Saturday night by Iranian-backed rebels on Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq, according to the Pentagon.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. local time, Iranian-backed militants launched multiple ballistic missiles and rockets from western Iraq, as confirmed by U.S. Central Command in a statement posted on social media.

CENTCOM reported that multiple U.S. personnel are currently being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries, while at least one Iraqi soldier was also wounded. Further details have not been provided at this time.

This incident marks the 144th attack on U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Syria since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. It is one of the largest attacks and the second instance in which militia groups have utilized ballistic missiles.

On November 20, a previous ballistic missile attack on Al-Asad Airbase resulted in eight people being wounded and caused minor damage to the base. The U.S. responded with a retaliatory strike that targeted and eliminated several Iranian-backed militia personnel.

Tensions Between U.S. and Iran Continue to Rise

Since the Gaza war, tensions between the United States and Iran have been steadily increasing. The U.S. has repeatedly accused Iran of being behind dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen-based Houthi rebels, although Iran has denied these allegations.

On Tuesday, Iran's foreign minister confirmed that Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles at targets in both Iraq and Syria. The strikes were condemned by both the U.S. and Iraq, especially as they hit close to the under-construction U.S. consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil.

In addition to the missile strikes, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it had seized a boatload of "advanced conventional weapons" that were being sent from Iran to the Houthis.

-- David Martin, Omar Abdulkader, Tucker Reals