At least five American personnel have been injured in a rocket attack at an airbase in western Iraq.
Two Iraqi security sources said two Katyusha rockets were fired and fell inside Al-Asad airbase on Monday.
US officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said one of the wounded Americans was seriously injured, adding that the casualty count was based on initial reports and could still change.
Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the attack.
The attack comes as the Middle East remains on high alert, with Israel preparing for a possible ground assault orchestrated by Hamas and Iran, following its assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in recent days. Both groups are backed by Iran.
It remains unclear whether the attack was linked to threats by Iran to retaliate over the killing of the Hamas leader.
“We can confirm that there was a suspected rocket attack today against US and Coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq,” a Pentagon official said.
“Initial indications are that several US personnel were injured. Base personnel are conducting a post-attack damage assessment.”
According to reports, more than 150 attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria occurred between October 17 2023 and January 29 2024.
Those attacks slowed after three American troops were killed in a drone attack on a small US outpost in Jordan in January, resulting in a significant US response that hit 85 targets at seven different locations.
“The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world,” Mr Biden said at the time.
“But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.”
Tensions spike in Middle East
On Monday afternoon, Mr Biden posted an image of himself and Ms Harris in the White House Situation Room as they received a briefing on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“The Vice President and I were briefed in the Situation Room on developments in the Middle East,” Mr Biden wrote.
“We received updates on threats posed by Iran and its proxies, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, and preparations to support Israel should it be attacked again.”
He added: “We also discussed the steps we are taking to defend our forces and respond to any attack against our personnel in a manner and place of our choosing.”
The assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, Hama’s top political leader in Iran, and Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, have escalated tensions in the Middle East, even as Israel and Hamas attempt to broker a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the return of hostages taken on Oct 7.
As many as 40,000 civilians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war so far.