Western forces attacked in Iraq. An explosion was heard

The Ain al-Asad air force base in western Iraq, where foreign military contingents are stationed, including US forces, was attacked again by rockets on Sunday. An explosion was heard inside the garrison - reports Reuters, citing military sources.

On Saturday, the air defense systems of the Ain al-Asad base shot down two drones over it, and on Thursday evening the garrison was attacked by drones and rockets.

Also on Saturday, the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, announced that the US will send additional THAAD and Patriot air defense systems to the Middle East in connection with attacks on American bases in that region and Israel's war with Hamas.

In addition, as Austin reported, additional US soldiers have gained "ready to deploy" status, although he did not disclose their numbers. The Pentagon had previously given such status to about two thousand soldiers.

After an attack by the Palestinian Hamas on Israel, Ahmad "Abu Hussein" al-Hamidawi, the leader of Kataib Hezbollah - a Shiite militia in Iraq supported by Iran - threatened a retaliatory attack on American bases if the US intervenes in the war between Hamas and Israel. He also threatened to launch rockets at Israeli targets.