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Report: Islamic State attacks US base in western Iraq
US aircaft heading for Iraq - © EPA
By Ramadan Al-Fatash, dpa Cairo (dpa) - A US base in western Iraq was attacked by Islamic State on Friday, Iraqi media reported, a day after the militant militia seized territory in the area.
The Ain al-Asad base, home to US Marines training Iraqi soldiers, came under artillery and rocket fire, independent Iraqi broadcaster al-Sumaria News reported, citing an unidentified local source.
No casualties were reported.
Iraqi soldiers killed eight would-be suicide bombers who were trying to sneak into the base, the broadcaster added.
There was no official comment.
The base is located about five kilometres from the town of al-Baghdadi which the Islamic State wants to control.
Al-Baghdadi is located in Iraq's mostly Sunni province of Anbar.
Islamic State - a radical Sunni group - seized large swathes of Anbar last year, exploiting local Sunnis' displeasure with the Shiite-led central government.
Since taking office in September, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sought to drum up the backing of the country's Sunni community in the fight to dislodge Islamic State.
The group also controls territory in northern Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
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US aircaft heading for Iraq - © EPA
By Ramadan Al-Fatash, dpa Cairo (dpa) - A US base in western Iraq was attacked by Islamic State on Friday, Iraqi media reported, a day after the militant militia seized territory in the area.
The Ain al-Asad base, home to US Marines training Iraqi soldiers, came under artillery and rocket fire, independent Iraqi broadcaster al-Sumaria News reported, citing an unidentified local source.
No casualties were reported.
Iraqi soldiers killed eight would-be suicide bombers who were trying to sneak into the base, the broadcaster added.
There was no official comment.
The base is located about five kilometres from the town of al-Baghdadi which the Islamic State wants to control.
Al-Baghdadi is located in Iraq's mostly Sunni province of Anbar.
Islamic State - a radical Sunni group - seized large swathes of Anbar last year, exploiting local Sunnis' displeasure with the Shiite-led central government.
Since taking office in September, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sought to drum up the backing of the country's Sunni community in the fight to dislodge Islamic State.
The group also controls territory in northern Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
