Baghdad: Seven soldiers were killed and 13 others injured when an airstrike hit a military clinic and an engineering unit at the Habbaniyah base, west of Baghdad, on Wednesday morning, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry stated in a post on the US social media company X that the strike was followed by additional fire from an aircraft as rescue teams continued searching the site. The attack resulted in casualties among personnel who were engaged in their "national and humanitarian duties."

The ministry described the attack as a "blatant and serious violation of international laws and norms that prohibit targeting medical facilities and their staff." It referred to the strike as "a dangerous escalation," emphasizing that targeting medical facilities constitutes "a grave crime."

The statement from the ministry asserted that the attack would not deter its personnel, adding that Iraq reserves the right to take all necessary measures "to respond in accordance with applicable laws." However, the party responsible for the strike was not identified by the ministry.

The incident comes amidst ongoing tensions, as the US and Israel have conducted airstrikes on Iran since February 28, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, leading to casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.