BREAKING: US service members evaluated for brain injuries after Iranian-backed forces fire missiles at al-Assad in Iraq

US service members are being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries after Iranian-backed forces fire missiles at al-Assad in Iraq, Central Command confirms.

In a post to X from the US Central Command's account, the post read, "At approximately 6:30 p.m. (Baghdad time) time Jan. 20, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched by Iranian-backed militants in Western Iraq targeting al-Assad Airbase."

"Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base’s air defense systems while others impacted on the base. Damage assessments are ongoing. A number of U.S. personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries."

The post went on to say that at least one Iraqi service member had been wounded.

According to a US official who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, other US personnel were also injured in the attack on Saturday.

The base, located in the desert, is used primarily by Iraqi forces but there is a presence of US military personnel as well.

Military assessments have been more severe than original accounts regarding the attack, which had assumed it was only rocket fire against the base.

Two US officials have said that the strikes came from the interior of Iraq, according to reports.

Since the beginning of the war in Israel on October 7 when Hamas launched terrorist attacks against the country, the US military has come under attack at least 58 times when in Iraq and 83 times in Syria.

Iranian-backed forces have been vying to impose costs on the US and Israel for the war.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.