Austin, Galante speak out after U.S. troops injured in Iraq base attack

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Defense Secretary Yoav Galant early Tuesday morning following an attack on Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq on Monday evening that injured five American personnel.

The two agreed that the attack was a serious escalation and “demonstrated Iran’s destabilizing role in the region.”

The Pentagon said Austin “reaffirmed the United States’ strong commitment to Israel’s security in the face of threats from Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned militias” as Israel and the United States prepare for attacks by Iran and its proxies on Israeli and American targets.

Security sources said two Katyusha rockets hit the base in western Iraq on Monday. A security source said the rockets landed inside the base.

Last week, the United States carried out strikes in Iraq against individuals that U.S. officials said were militants preparing to launch drones, posing a threat to U.S. and coalition forces.

The Pentagon said it would deploy more fighter jets and Navy ships to the Middle East to bolster defenses against threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.