00:00 On Saturday, at least two US service members stationed in western Iraq sustained injuries
00:09 when their airbase faced heavy rocket and missile fire from Iran-backed militias.
00:14 This incident is a continuation of the repercussions from the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza
00:18 Strip, causing increased tensions in the Middle East.
00:22 Since October 7, when Hamas initiated attacks on Israel, retaliation from Israel has been
00:26 forceful and groups aligned with Hamas, supported by Iran, have targeted both Israeli and US
00:32 interests.
00:33 A US official noted that initial information is limited and the number of injuries may
00:38 rise as damage reports from officers in Iraq are communicated up the chain of command.
00:43 Some US military personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries.
00:47 An Iraqi soldier was also injured in the attack.
00:50 The Air al-Assad airbase in Iraq, targeted at 6.30pm local time, experienced the most
00:56 serious assault among approximately 140 rocket and missile strikes against US troops in Iraq
01:02 and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
01:06 At least 10 rockets and seven short-range ballistic missiles were fired at the base,
01:11 with two successfully penetrating air defence systems.
01:14 This attack exemplifies the region's entanglement in a broader conflict.
01:19 The hostilities extend beyond Iraq and Syria.
01:22 Israel and Hezbollah, another Iranian ally, exchanged fires across the Lebanese border.
01:27 In Yemen, a Houthi militia backed by Iran launched missiles and drones at commercial
01:32 ships in the Red Sea and Gaza Strip in retaliation for the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
01:36 The United States and its allies responded with strikes in Yemen.
01:40 Recent days saw Iran firing missiles into Iraq, Syria and Pakistan, claiming defensive
01:45 actions against terrorist groups and targeting an allergen Israeli intelligence base.
01:50 In response, Pakistan reported swift airstrikes inside Iraq.
01:53 On the same day, Iran accused Israel of conducting an airstrike in Damascus, resulting in the
01:58 death of five Iranian military figures.
02:00 Subsequently, a barrage of missiles and rockets struck US troops at the Air al-Assad airbase.
02:07 Air al-Assad airbase, primarily utilised by Iraqi forces but still hosting a US contingent,
02:12 plays a role in supporting Iraq and Kurdish Syrian forces against the remnants of the
02:16 Islamic State group.
02:17 Currently, there are 2,500 US troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria.
02:22 It remains unclear if the militia attacks in Iraq are directly related to earlier strikes
02:27 in Syria.
02:28 Over the past three months, there have been 140 militia attacks on US troops in Iraq and
02:33 Syria, with 57 in Iraq and 83 in Syria.
02:37 Nearly 70 US personnel have suffered injuries in these attacks, including traumatic brain
02:42 injuries, though the majority have been able to return to duty relatively quickly.
02:46 [Outro]
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