The United States and Israel are on heightened alert after an attack on a US military base in western Iraq.
This comes as Iran has vowed revenge on Israel for last week’s killing in Tehran of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Reuters news agency on Monday quoted US government officials and others as saying at least five US military personnel were injured in the rocket attack.
The US Department of Defense said in a press release that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke on the phone on Monday, and shared the view that the attack was carried out by Iran-aligned militia.
The defense chiefs agreed that the attack marked a dangerous escalation and demonstrated Iran’s destabilizing role in the region.
The White House says President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the developments.