"We can confirm that today there was a suspected rocket attack targeting US and Coalition forces at Al-Asad Air Base, Iraq," the official said. "Initial indications are that some US personnel were injured."

The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, as the US prepares for Iranian retaliation against Israel over the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah militant group has also vowed retaliation against Israel after the assassination of one of its top commanders in Beirut less than a day before Haniyeh was killed.

The incident comes just days after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered additional military forces to the region, including an aircraft carrier strike group, a fighter jet squadron and more warships to the Middle East.

While it remains unclear who carried out Monday's rocket attack, US officials have long blamed Iraqi militia groups for attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria.

There were more than 150 attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria between October 17 of last year and January 29 of this year. Those attacks slowed after three U.S. service members were killed in a drone attack on a U.S. outpost in Jordan, prompting a significant U.S. response that hit 85 targets in seven different locations.

“The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world ,” President Joe Biden said at the time. “But… if you harm an American, we will respond.”

Bui Huy (according to CNN)