The Pentagon Press Briefing Room seal as seen March 27, 2020, Washington, D.C. (DoDo photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

By Gary  Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC TIMES

There are no current reports of U.S. servicemember injuries  from this morning’s rocket attacks on the air base at Al Asad in Iraq, the Pentagon said.  At least 10 rockets targeted an military base in western Iraq that hosts US and coalition troops. A U.S. civilian contractor suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering and passed away shortly after. 

“Iraqi security forces are on scene and investigating. We cannot attribute responsibility at this time, and we do not have a complete picture of the extent of the damage.  We stand by as needed to assist our Iraqi partners as they investigate. Al Asad’s Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) missile defensive systems engaged in defense of our forces. Secretary Austin was briefed by his team and is closely monitoring the situation. We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the individual who died.”

-Pentagon spokesman  John  F.  Kirby 

There is an investigation into who is responsible for the attack.  Kirby said he’s not aware that the Iraqis have asked for assistance in investigating the rocket attacks and that any response to the attacks will need to wait until that investigation is complete.  There was  a similar, larger-scale rocket strike on the same base by Iranian-backed militias  that pushed the U.S.  close to  brink of war with Iran.  That attack by Iran was reportedly  in retaliation for  the U.S.-directed drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani outside the Baghdad airport.     

U.S. Launches Retaliatory Airstrikes Against IRAN-Backed Militants in SYRIA

Wednesday’s attack  also came after President Joe Biden ordered a U.S. airstrike in Syria last week, in response to a series of rocket attacks on American and coalition troops in Iraq.   

Pentagon Says Any Response to Early Morning Rocket Attack Will Wait on Investigation

“Nobody wants to see this escalate into … a tit for tat. That is, that’s not in our interest. It’s not in the Iraqi people’s interest.  Let’s let our Iraqi partners investigate this, see what they learn, and then if a response is warranted, I think we have shown clearly … that we won’t shy away from that. But we’re just not there yet.”  – Pentagon  spokesman  John  Kirby