Taji rocket attack: Americans, Brit reportedly killed, Kiwis safe

A cluster of Katyusha rockets has targeted the Taji airbase in Iraq, killing three.

According to a spokesperson for Coalition forces in Iraq, 15 rockets "impacted Iraq's Camp Taji base" on Thursday morning. They were reportedly fired by the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces.

Two Americans and a British individual have been killed while up to 12 people are wounded. It's unclear what their role is at the base. 

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command released a statement saying the attack "is a very serious security challenge and a hostile act".

An investigation is underway into confirming who carried it out.

"The Joint Operations Command also confirms that it has taken firm action and will vigorously counter any targeting of military camps and bases."

Camp Taji, located north of Baghdad, has also been the base for New Zealanders in Iraq. In January, when the Taji area came under frequent fire, there were 45 Kiwis at the camp in a non-combat training role.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has told Newshub that all Kiwi personnel at Camp Taji are safe and accounted for after Thursday's attack.

No Australians were injured in the attack either.

Pictures released by the Iraqi military shows a truck with rocket launchers in the back.

Thursday's attack have prompted concerns about a full-scale response from the United States who was already aggravated after an attack on Iraqi bases earlier this year which wounded 11 US service members and led many to have brain injuries.

In January, Iran launched rockets at two Iraqi military complexes in retaliation for the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US-directed airstrike earlier in the month.

The killing of Soleimani - who was one of Iran's most powerful figures and the head of its infamous Quds Force - sent shockwaves across the region, with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowing revenge. 

US President Donald Trump says his decision to order the killing was informed by intelligence which suggested Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel. 

The assassination came only days after an America contractor in Iraq was killed in a rocket attack which the US blamed on Iranian-backed militia. In response, the US killed 25 Hezbollah fighters, leading militias to attack the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Following the January attacks, a Ukrainian plane was shot down over Iran, killing 176 people. 

A statement released by Iran's Armed Forces General Staff at the time said that due to the potential threat of US retaliation [to Iran's attacks] there was "more sensitivity in air defence units".

"In the hours after the missile strikes, US terrorist forces' warplanes around the country increased, and some reports of air strikes targeting strategic centers in the country were reported to numerous defense units and targets on some radar plates."

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the plane crashed due to "human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster".