Drones and missiles targeted the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts US and other international forces in western Iraq, on Thursday evening and several explosions were heard inside the base, two security sources said, cited by Reuters.

The Iraqi military said it had cordoned off the area around the base and launched a search operation. Sources said it was not yet known whether the attacks resulted in casualties or destruction.

Thursday’s attack was the third in less than 24 hours against air bases housing US troops in Iraq.

US forces in Iraq were also hit by two separate drone attacks on Wednesday, one of which left a small number of soldiers lightly injured, although the US military was able to intercept the explosive-laden aircraft.

Last week, Iraqi armed groups allied with Iran threatened to attack American interests with missiles and drones if Washington intervened to support Israel against Hamas in Gaza.

The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq and another 900 in neighboring Syria, with the mission of advising and assisting local forces in the fight against the Islamic State group, which in 2014 seized swathes of territory in both countries.

Ain al-Asad Air Base is located in the western province of Anbar. (News.ro)