US, Israeli defense chiefs condemn 'dangerous escalation' after 5 missile attack wounds 5 American soldiers on Iraqi base

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American officials on Monday announced at least five American soldiers were injured in a missile attack on the Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq. It is widely believed that the missile attack was carried out by one of Iran’s terror proxies in the Middle East.

Iraqi security officials said at least two Katyusha rockets struck the base during the attack. The targeting of the American servicemen comes as Israel and an U.S.-led alliance prepare for an imminent Iranian-led “revenge” attack on Israel for the killing of the top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Lebanon last Wednesday, In addition, Iran holds Israel responsible for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran hours after Shukr was eliminated.

While Israel Defense Forces has claimed responsibility for the strike on Shukr is has not made any comments regarding Haniyeh's assassination, when a bomb exploded in the room of the guest house where he was staying.

U.S. officials anonymously told Reuters that one of the U.S. soldiers was seriously injured in the attack, saying: “Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment.”

Shortly after the missile attack on the Al-Asad military base, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the attack highlighted Iran's destabilizing role.

“Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant agreed that today’s Iran-aligned militia attack on U.S. forces stationed at Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq marked a dangerous escalation and demonstrated Iran’s destabilizing role in the region,” U.S. Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick S. Ryder stated, quoting a readout of the call between the two defense chiefs.

Austin stressed that Pentagon would continue to show "unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security in the face of threats from Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and other Iran-aligned militia groups.”

There are growing regional and international concerns that a massive Iranian-led aggression against the Jewish state could potentially ignite a full-scale regional war with global implications.

The Iranian ayatollah regime recently rejected U.S. and Arab diplomatic calls for restraint against the State of Israel.

The foreign ministers of Lebanon and Jordan visited Tehran, where their Iranian host reportedly said that “it didn’t care if the response triggered a war.”

The foreign ministers of Lebanon and Jordan traveled to Tehran, were reportedly told by their Iranian host that “it didn’t care if the response triggered a war.”

While Israel prepares its defense systems for an anticipated attack from Iran or its regional terror proxies, senior Israeli military officials have reportedly presented a plan to preemptively strike Iran and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.

"The chances of escalation in the north are already increasing, so it's better that we lead," the Israeli officials assessed.

The Israeli government has indicated it might consider preemptive action if it receives credible intelligence of an imminent Iranian attack, however, U.S. and Israeli officials are allegedly mapping out the extent and timing.

In April, Israel and an American-led international coalition neutralized 99% of the more than 300 rockets, missiles and drones fired directly by the Iranian regime toward Israel. However, U.S. and Israeli military officials warn that Iran's retaliation attack could be more severe than the April attack.

Israeli military leaders have outlined defensive and offensive measures for potential scenarios involving Iran and its proxies, including a coordinated drone and missile attack from Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Despite Israel's advanced defense capabilities, there is reportedly concern that a massive attack could overwhelm those systems.

Israeli leaders have warned Iran that Israel Defense Forces will respond to any attack.