Rocket Attack On West Of Baghdad Air Base Destroys Iraqi Military Aircraft

A rocket attack targeted an Iraqi airbase west of Baghdad airport and destroyed a military aircraft, a spokesperson for the country's defense ministry said Monday. The Mohammed Alaa Air Base was hit at 1:55 a.m. local time by 122mm Grad rockets launched from the outskirts of the capital, ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Tahseen al Khafaji said. The attack destroyed an Antonov-132 aircraft belonging to the Iraqi Air Force. There were no casualties. Local authorities are assessing the damage and investigating the source of the rocket fire, al Khafaji said. "These planes are property of the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi people. These planes are important to us," he said. "We condemn this reprehensible act, which is considered a hostile action against our heroic Iraqi Army.” Iranian-backed groups have fired drones and rockets targeting U.S. bases, diplomatic missions and oil facilities in the Gulf, as the war in Iran enters its second month.