The Islamic State (Daesh) took over parts of the western Iraq town of al-Baghdadi Thursday, close to an airbase where U.S. Marines are training Iraqi troops, Reuters has reported, citing military officials.
The base, where approximately 320 U.S. Marines are training members of the Iraqi 7th Division, has been under mortar fire since this past December. Heavy fighting in the area has been confirmed by Pentagon spokesperson Navy Commander Elissa Smith. “There have been reports of ineffective indirect fire, but no direct attack on the airbase,” she said.
A spokesman from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense has refrained from commenting on the situation.
