A British soldier and two US troops have been killed and 12 coalition personnel injured in a rocket attack on a military base in Iraq.

Britain has condemned the attack as "cowardly and retrograde".

The death marks the first time a British serviceperson has been killed by enemy fire since the UK launched its operation against Islamic State alongside allies in 2014.

No group has yet claimed to be behind the barrage of rockets that struck Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, on Wednesday.

An Iranian-backed militia has in the past targeted US-led coalition forces.


If the Kataib Hezbollah militia was involved it could trigger a significant response from the United States against the group and also potentially against Iran.

Boris Johnson expressed his "deep sadness" at the death of a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps. The serviceperson's family has been informed.

"My thoughts go out to their loved ones at this extremely difficult time," the prime minister said in a statement.

"We will continue to stay in close contact with our coalition partners to establish exactly what happened."

Image: Boris Johnson called the attack 'deplorable'

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, spoke by telephone on Thursday night with his American counterpart, Mike Pompeo.

The US secretary of state wrote on Twitter: "Today's deadly attack on Iraq's Camp Taji military base will not be tolerated. @DominicRaab and I agree - those responsible will be held accountable."

Coalition and Iraqi forces are investigating the attack.

Image: The truck was found about 10 miles from the base. Pic: Iraqi security media cell

They said about 18 Katyusha rockets hit Camp Taji. Iraqi security personnel discovered a "rocket-rigged truck" a few miles away from the base.

The nationalities of the injured personnel have not been revealed.

Ben Wallace, Britain's defence secretary, called the attack a "cowardly and retrograde act".

"The men and women of the UK armed forces are in Iraq to help that country establish stability and prosperity. The people that did this are not friends of Iraq," he said in a statement.

"My thoughts are with the families of those whose loved ones have been killed or injured. We shall not forget their sacrifice and will ensure those who committed these acts face justice."

The last time a US citizen was killed in a rocket attack blamed on Iranian-backed militia last December, the United States retaliated by launching airstrikes against the group in Iraq and across the border in Syria.

The US action triggered mass protest outside the American embassy in Baghdad. The Kataib Hezbollah militia is part of a group of militias that are officially recognised by the Iraqi government and played a significant role in the fight against Islamic State.

Image: Some missiles were still inside the launcher. Pic: Iraqi security media cell

President Donald Trump then sanctioned the assassination of a top Iranian general while he was on a visit to Baghdad on 3 January.

The killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani - a man who played a fundamental role in the development of Iranian proxy militias that killed and maimed many US and British forces in Iraq following the 2003 Iraq war - sparked outrage in pro-Iranian parts of the region.

Five days later, the Iranian regime responded by firing ballistic missiles against military bases in neighbouring Iraq, where US forces were housed.

No American personnel were killed and President Trump chose not to escalate the confrontation further, bringing the two countries away from the brink of all-out war.

Image: President Trump authorised the killing of Qassem Solemani, but decided not to escalate the confrontation further

However his wiliness to strike to avenge the death of an American citizen appeared to set a new red line.

This means it is highly likely the United States will launch some kind of retaliatory action following the Camp Taji rocket attack if any Iranian-link is found.

It is a significant moment as well for Britain, causing the first British death by hostile fire in six years of operations in Iraq and Syria against Islamic State.

A total of four British service personnel taking part in Operation Shader have died.

The previous three fatalities - one in Iraq, one at a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus and another in Syria - were caused respectively by an accidental shooting, a traffic accident and so-called friendly fire.