Iraq: ISIS Fighters Attack Air Base With Over 300 US Marines

ISIS fighters and suicide bombers attacked a US air base where 320 Marines are training Iraqi troops. The Pentagon confirmed the extremist group attacked Al-Baghdadi, just eight kilometres away from the base, from two directions before capturing the western Iraqi town.

Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said between 20 and 25 militants, dressed in Iraqi Army uniforms, were involved in the attack on the heavily guarded Ain al-Asad base. However, no American troops were injured during the ISIS attack early Friday. “Early indications are that yes, some of them did detonate their vests, detonate themselves. And then they were followed by roughly something on the order of 15 or so other fighters. They were immediately engaged by members of the Iraqi Army, the 7th Infantry of the Iraqi Army, and all were killed,” Kirby added. The US fighter helicopters are supporting Iraqi Army battling ISIS militants in Al-Baghdadi. “I think what we’re seeing here is mission creep. The Iraqi Army is not up to the task. And without the United States Air Force and the military on the ground, a lot of these … bases would be overrun,” Robert Baer, a former CIA officer, told CNN.