BAGHDAD: At least 10 rockets hit a military base in western Iraq hosting US-led coalition troops on Wednesday, security sources said, two days before Pope Francis’s historic visit to the country.
The attack on Ain al-Assad military airport in western Anbar province took place at 7:20 am (0420 GMT), coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto quoted by AFP said.
The base hosts United States, coalition and Iraqi forces, two security sources said.
No casualties have been reported so far.
A Baghdad Operations Command official said earlier that about 13 rockets were launched from a location about 8 kilometers from the base.
It was the second rocket attack in Iraq this month and came two days ahead of the Pope’s visit to Iraq.
The Pope will visit despite deteriorating security in some parts of the country which has seen the first big suicide bombing in Baghdad for three years.
On Feb. 16 a rocket attack on US-led forces in northern Iraq killed a civilian contractor and injured a US service member.
(with Reuters and AFP)
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