A new U.S. military base in northern Iraq came under attack again on Monday from Islamic State militants and drew a threat from an Iran-backed Shi’ite militia, just two days after a U.S. Marine was killed in a rocket attack on the base.
The post, known as Firebase Bell, is the first independent U.S. base of its kind in Iraq since American forces returned to the region in August 2014.
The base’s existence was meant to be kept secret until it was operations, defense officials said, but the Islamic State terrorist group learned of the base before the American public did and launched its March 19 attack, Reuters reported.
Marine Staff Sergeant Louis Cardin was killed in the attack. Other members of Cardin’s company were injured in the rocket fire.
Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for he U.S.-led coalition disclosed another attack on Monday.
A group of Islamic State fighters were able to draw close enough to the base to stage a failed attack with small arms, according to Reuters.
Col. Warren said adjustments were being made to strengthen the base’s defenses and thwart such attacks in the future.
“We are continuing to improve our fighting position, so to speak, to ensure that we’ve got the best ability to protect ourselves,” Col. Warren told reporters at a new briefing.
But the Islamic State terror group is not the only threat to the base. An Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia has threatened U.S. Marines deployed at the base, calling them “forces of corruption,” according to Reuters.
Col. Warren said the base was established a couple of weeks ago to provide support for U.S. advisors now working with Iraqi forces at an adjoining base. The position was still behind the front lines.
He declined to say whether U.S. Marines might be tasked with providing offensive support when Iraqi forces advance toward the city of Mosul, the Islamic State’s stronghold in Iraq.
“I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong, but I’m also not going to telegraph our punches,” Col. Warren said, Reuters reported.
Two hundred Marines have been deployed to the base so far.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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