BAGHDAD, March 30 (Xinhua) -- An Antonov-132 aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force was destroyed early Monday in a rocket attack on a military base near Baghdad International Airport, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said.
The attack, which occurred at 1:55 a.m. local time on Monday (2255 GMT on Sunday), involved rockets launched from the outskirts of Baghdad, according to a statement by the ministry.
No casualties were reported, while specialized authorities have begun assessing the damage and tracking the rocket launch sites.
The ministry condemned the act as a "cowardly criminal act" targeting the military institution and defense capabilities, noting that it will not tolerate any attempt to undermine Iraq's security and sovereignty.
The attacks came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies have responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East. ■
