LONDON, May 8 (KUNA) -- Two civilians were killed and a British serviceman was injured in a rocket attack on the UK's Basra Airport base in Iraq Thursday, the British Ministry of Defence MoD said.
Around 12 missiles were launched at the large base outside the Iraqi second city this afternoon. The MoD said no British servicemen were seriously injured in the attack but it is understood a British soldier was hurt. He is described as a "walking wounded".
The two civilian workers are believed to have come from a Middle Eastern country but it is not known if they were Iraqi nationals.
Major Tom Holloway, the British military spokesman in Iraq, said "I can confirm that the Contingency Operating Base (COB) was subjected to an indirect fire attack this afternoon." "The attack has resulted in a number of casualties but we will not provide any further details on them at this time." He said adding that "I can also confirm that there were no coalition military fatalities," he added.
There are around 4,100 British troops deployed in southern Iraq mainly at the Basra Air Base. (end) he.ajs KUNA 081942 May 08NNNN