Today's D Brief: Rocket attack in Iraq; 2,000 domestic-terror investigations; Understanding Jan. 6; Big boost for vaccine production; And a bit more.
By Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
March 3, 2021 10:59 AM ET
The D Brief
Someone launched at least 10 rockets this morning at an Iraqi military base that hosts forces from the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, the coalition’s spokesman announced today on Twitter. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, and no injuries have yet been reported. However, “A U.S. civilian contractor suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering and sadly passed away shortly after,†the Defense Department said in a statement this morning.
Location: Ain al-Asad airbase, in western Anbar province — where Iran launched ballistic missiles last year, causing multiple concussion injuries for the U.S.-led coalition. “[A]bout 13 rockets were launched from a location about 8 km (5 miles)†outside of al-Asad, according to Reuters. The Pentagon says this morning the rockets were fired from a point just east of the base. A “burned out truck†was discovered at what’s believed to have been the origin point, the Associated Press reports, citing a statement from the Iraqi military.
The rockets fell at about 7:20 a.m. local time, according to U.S. Army Col. Wayne Marotto. Iraqi security forces are “leading the response & investigation,†Marotto tweeted.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/03/the-d-brief-march-03-2021/172417/
