Rockets Fired at Iraq Military Base with Foreign Troops

File Photo: A member of the Iraqi security forces walks past a destroyed vehicle that was carrying rockets amid sacks of flour, in the district of al-Baghdadi in al-Anbar province on July 8, 2021. (AFP Photo)
File Photo: A member of the Iraqi security forces walks past a destroyed vehicle that was carrying rockets amid sacks of flour, in the district of al-Baghdadi in al-Anbar province on July 8, 2021. (AFP Photo)
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Rockets Fired at Iraq Military Base with Foreign Troops

File Photo: A member of the Iraqi security forces walks past a destroyed vehicle that was carrying rockets amid sacks of flour, in the district of al-Baghdadi in al-Anbar province on July 8, 2021. (AFP Photo)
File Photo: A member of the Iraqi security forces walks past a destroyed vehicle that was carrying rockets amid sacks of flour, in the district of al-Baghdadi in al-Anbar province on July 8, 2021. (AFP Photo)

Five rockets on Monday targeted an Iraqi military base hosting troops from an international anti-extremist coalition without causing deaths or damage, a military official said.

A coalition source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said five rockets struck the Ain al-Assad base in Anbar province, according to initial reports.

"Iraqi security forces responded. No casualties or damage reported for the time being," the source added.

An Iraqi security source in Anbar had initially reported three rockets falling near the base, controlled by Iraq but hosting troops from a US-led coalition against ISIS group extremists, AFP reported.

Rockets and armed drones frequently target the Ain al-Assad base. The last such incident on April 30 saw two rockets fall nearby without causing damage or deaths.

A previously unknown group hostile to the United States' military presence in Iraq, "International Resistance", claimed responsibility for the attack on a pro-Iran Telegram channel.

Rocket and drone attacks have targeted US troops and interests in Iraq in recent months. Many are not claimed, but Washington systematically blames pro-Iran factions for them.

Iraq last year announced the end of the international coalition's combat mission after it helped the state defeat ISIS forces.

Some 2,500 US soldiers and around 1,000 troops from other coalition members remain in three Iraqi military bases to continue a training and advisory role that began more than a year ago.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.