A military base close to Baghdad International Airport (BGW) in Iraq, which hosts United States personnel, was struck by several Katyusha rockets, Iraq’s Interior Ministry reported.
Two Katyusha rockets hit BGW Airport on October 1, 2024, at around 12:20 local time, according to Reuters, which cited Iraqi military officials. However, early investigations indicated that three rockets were fired.
The “Katyusha” is a type of unguided rocket artillery developed by the Soviet Union in the Second World War.
The first rocket landed in the garage of the Iraqi’s Second Regiment of the Counter-Terrorism Service, while the other fell in an abandoned yard inside BGW Airport. No casualties were reported and there were no flight delays or disruptions at the airport, according to a Arab News report on October 1, 2024.
The Ministry of Interior reported having arrested the commander of the security forces responsible for the Amiriya area, where the missiles were launched, to question him on whether the area’s security and the safety of public and private property were ensured.
The Prime Minister of Iraq ordered the Minister of the Interior to start an urgent investigation into the security breach caused by the Katyusha rockets. The findings of the investigation should be made public, and those responsible are expected to be identified within 48 hours, the Prime Minister added.
The incident occurred as US forces continue to face attacks from Iran-backed militias in the region. On January 18, 2024, a US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed in northern Iraq, likely downed by a surface-to-air missile provided by Iran and fired by an Iranian-affiliated Iraqi group.
