A photo taken from a helicopter shows Ain Al Asad air base in the western Anbar desert, Iraq. AP
A photo taken from a helicopter shows Ain Al Asad air base in the western Anbar desert, Iraq. AP
A photo taken from a helicopter shows Ain Al Asad air base in the western Anbar desert, Iraq. AP
A photo taken from a helicopter shows Ain Al Asad air base in the western Anbar desert, Iraq. AP

Ain Al Asad: rockets hit Iraqi base hosting US troops


Layla Mashkoor
  • English
  • Arabic

Three rockets hit Iraq's Ain Al Asad military base hosting US troops on Monday afternoon, US coalition spokesman Wayne Marotto said.

The rockets struck the perimeter of the base at about 2.45pm, without causing any injuries. The damage is still being assessed, he said.

Photos posted on social media showed a large plume of smoke rising above the base.

The Ain Al Asad base in Anbar province hosts the largest contingent of US troops in Iraq.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the US has previously blamed Iran-backed militia groups for launching repeated rocket attacks against American troops in Iraq.

In response, the US last week launched air strikes against Iranian-supported Iraqi militias operating in Iraq and Syria.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the air strikes were intended to send a "strong message" to stop attacks on US forces in Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi called the strikes an "unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security".

Rather than deterring the militias, the strikes prompted retaliatory attacks as the groups called for revenge against the US.

One day after the US attack, American troops came under fire from Iran-backed groups operating in eastern Syria. No casualties were reported.


What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Updated: July 05, 2021, 2:00 PM