Troops Describe Night of Fire From Shadowy Iraqi Militants
After the first rocket struck the Erbil base on Monday, “everything happened pretty quickly.†But U.S. officials still aren't sure who's responsible.
By Katie Bo Williams
Senior National Security Correspondent
February 19, 2021
Middle East
ERBIL, Iraq — When the base’s incoming-fire sirens shrieked, the firefighters had just seconds to roll out of their bunks onto the tent floor and cover their heads before the rocket hit.
The explosion swiftly engulfed two of the fragile barracks in flames. Although it was 9:30 at night, not all of the 20 men who slept there were inside. Firefighters moved quickly to save their own, pulling injured men from the tents and moving their trucks to fight the fire. There were shrapnel injuries, some severe enough to send the men to surgery, and one U.S.-employed contractor was killed.
Elsewhere on the base, Louisiana National Guard Capt. Brandi Tregre was on her way to the latrine to get ready for bed when she heard the sirens start to scream. She paused to see if it was an exercise. Then she looked over to the airstrip and saw the first rocket strike.
“After that point, everything happened pretty quickly,†she said.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/02/troops-describe-night-fire-shadowy-iraqi-militants/172172/
