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Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 10:17
Rocket attack kills 1, injures 6 in Iraq base hosting US troops
By Xinhua
Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 10:17 By Xinhua

Shattered glass is pictured on the floor following a rocket attack in Erbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region, on Feb 15, 2021. A volley of rockets targeted the Kurdish regional capital in northern Iraq, authorities said, as security sources confirmed that at least one hit a military complex hosting US-led coalition troops. (SAFIN HAMED / AFP)

BAGHDAD - A civilian contractor was killed and five others wounded, along with wounding a US soldier, in a rocket attack on Monday that targeted Erbil airport, which houses a US-led coalition military base, in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq, the US military said.

Colonel Wayne Marotto, Spokesman of CJTF-OIR (Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve), said in a brief tweet that initial reports stated "indirect fire landed on coalition forces in Erbil tonight. There was 1 civilian contractor killed, 5 civilian contractors injured, and 1 US service member injured."

Earlier in the night of the rocket attack, a brief statement issued by the regional Counter-Terrorism Service said that three rockets were fired on Erbil. Two of them landed in Erbil airport, and the third landed outside

Marotto did not give further details about the nationality of the civilian contractors but said that more information to follow.

Marotto's tweet came hours after unidentified militants fired rockets in the evening at Erbil airport and near it, according to Kurdish security sources.

According to the US military statements, indirect fire refers to rocket and mortar shells.

The regional Ministry of Interior said in a brief statement that several rockets were fired at 9:30 pm (1830 GMT) on several areas in Erbil, injuring several civilians.

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Another statement by the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, also Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces, said that al-Kadhimi ordered a joint investigation with the Kurdish regional authorities over the rocket attack.

Earlier in the night, a brief statement issued by the regional Counter-Terrorism Service said that three rockets were fired on Erbil. Two of them landed in Erbil airport, and the third landed outside.

This AFP graphic dated Sept 27, 2018 shows the map of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, including Erbil (Arbil).

A security source anonymously pointed out the third rocket struck the fence of the residential complex of Naz City near the airport, wounding two people and damaging several nearby shops.

READ MORE: Syria: US oil firm signed illegal deal with Kurdish-led rebels

The Kurdish region in northern Iraq has been relatively peaceful, but such attacks have frequently targeted Baghdad airport and Iraqi military bases housing US troops, as well as the US embassy in the Green Zone with mortar and rocket attacks.

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