Skip to main content

Rockets strike Baghdad airport area, no casualties reported

A number of Katyusha rockets were launched from the Taji area landed near Camp Al-Nasr west of Baghdad, says Iraqi security officials
An Iraqi Airways plane sits at Baghdad International Airport on 5 August 2014 (AFP)

Rockets fired by militants struck the area of Baghdad's vast airport complex on Monday, security officials said.

"A number of Katyusha rockets landed near Camp Al-Nasr (Victory), west of Baghdad," the security command responsible for the capital said in a statement, referring to a base close to the airport.

The rockets were launched from the Taji area, north of the capital, it said.

The Baghdad Operations Command later posted images on its Facebook page showing a heavy truck with 40 tubes for launching rockets facing outward from the back of the bed, saying the vehicle was used in the attack.

A police colonel told AFP 13 rockets struck two areas near the airport, but said an official at the facility had reported that none hit the airport itself.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the rocket fire.

The sprawling airport complex, which stretches from western Baghdad to the outskirts of Anbar province, has been targeted by rocket and mortar fire for years, but commercial aviation traffic is rarely disrupted.

However, multiple carriers stopped flights into Baghdad for several days after a bullet struck a flydubai jet during its descent in January this year.

New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch

Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters

Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.