Pentagon chief says Iraq base attack a ‘dangerous escalation’ in call with Gallant

An attack by Iranian proxies on an airbase housing US troops in Iraq marks “a dangerous escalation” and the US is beefing up its military posture in the Mideast, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin tells Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a phone call, the Pentagon says.

Five servicemembers were injured in the attack on al-Asad airbase late Monday.

“Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant agreed that today’s Iran-aligned militia attack on U.S. forces stationed at Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq marked a dangerous escalation and demonstrated Iran’s destabilizing role in the region,” reads a US statement.

Austin also tells Gallant of “measures to strengthen U.S. military posture in the region in light of this escalating situation.”

According to the Pentagon, Austin called Gallant to “reiterate unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security in the face of threats from Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and other Iran-aligned militia groups.”