The situation in the Middle East remains tense following the assassination of key figures from Hamas and Hezbollah. The United States has stressed the need to avoid further escalation, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin actively communicating with regional allies and deploying additional military resources to protect U.S. forces and support Israel. The Pentagon has indicated it will not tolerate attacks on its personnel, with the recent rocket attack on a base in Iraq attributed to Iran-backed groups. Meanwhile, Iraq has condemned the attacks and is investigating the incidents.
On Monday, a rocket attack on al Asad airbase in western Iraq injured seven U.S. personnel. Austin said the United States "will not tolerate" attacks on its personnel. Asked if he knew who was behind the attack, Austin added the U.S. was sure it was an Iran-backed militia, but had not determined which one. "We're still investigating to determine that," he said. Iraq's military condemned on Tuesday what it called "reckless" actions against bases on its soil and said it had captured a truck with a rocket launcher. A small truck was seized with a rocket launcher fixed on the back. Eight unfired rockets were dismantled, the statement said. A rare ally of both the U.S. and Iran, Iraq hosts 2,500 U.S. troops and has Iran-backed militias linked to its security forces. It has witnessed escalating tit-for-tat attacks since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October.
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