Tributes to female British Army medic, 26, killed in ‘cowardly’ Iraq base missile attack blamed on Iran
THE British Army medic killed in a "cowardly" rocket attack in Iraq was named tonight as Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon.
The 26-year-old from Ayr, Scotland, died when at least 15 missiles were fired at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, on Wednesday.
Two US servicemen were also killed in the attack and another 12 military personnel were injured - which a senior US general blamed on Iran.
L/Cpl Gillon juggled her civilian career as a sports physiotherapist while volunteering as a reserve in the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry.
She joined the regiment in September 2015 as a Combat Medical Technician, before qualifying as a Class 1 Combat Medical Technician in 2018.
She was killed while volunteering as part of the Irish Guards Battle Group during their deployment to Iraq, the Ministry of Defence said tonight.
'LARGER THAN LIFE'
Her commanding officer said she was a "hugely popular character" in a tribute on Thursday, adding he was "proud and humbled"; to have served alongside her.
Lt Col William Leek, Commanding Officer Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, said: "She was a larger than life soldier who was determined to deploy on operations, help others, develop herself and gain practical experience.
"She had already achieved a great deal in her relatively short time with us and it was abundantly clear that she was destined for great things in her civilian and military careers. Her loss is keenly felt."
'COWARDLY ACT'
Earlier on Thursday, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the attack would "not be tolerated", while Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was a "cowardly" act.
More than 15 small rockets rained down on the Taji military base, which is used as a training site for Coalition forces.
The attack is the largest on a US base in Iraq since Iran launched ballistic missiles at bases housing US troops in January.
The attack came on what would have been the 63rd birthday of top Iranian General who was killed in a US airstrike earlier this year.
Qasam Soleimani was struck by two missiles fired from a MQ9 Reaper drone after he disembarked from an aircraft at Baghdad airport.
The regime butcher ran a network of shia militias who were responsible for thousands of deaths in the Middle East, including British and US troops.
A million people took to the streets in Iran to mourn the executed general during his funeral.
US GENERAL BLAMES HEZBOLLAH
US General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of United States Central Command, said he suspected Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah was to blame because it is the "only group known" to have carried out similar attacks.
Speaking before the Senate Armed Services committee, he said: "While we are still investigating the attack, I will note that the Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against US and coalition forces in Iraq.
"While periods of decreased tension may provide the illusion of a return to normalcy, ample intelligence and indeed yesterday's actions indicate the Iranian regime's desire to continue malign activities that threaten lives, destabilise sovereign nations, threaten freedom of navigation, regional commerce, global economic supplies and the global economy itself."
The general added the coalition presence in Iraq had established a "rough deterrence" against Iran meaning they no longer carried out "attributable" missile strikes against US bases.
But he warned "proxy" attacks were likely to continue.
The Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against US and coalition forces in Iraq.
General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of United States Central Command
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also slammed the "deplorable" attack .
He said: "The attack against the Taji military base in Iraq is deplorable.
“Our servicemen and women work tirelessly every day to uphold security and stability in the region – their presence makes us all safer.
“The Foreign Secretary has spoken to the US Secretary of State and we will continue to liaise with our international partners to fully understand the details of this abhorrent attack."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: "Last night's attack on UK and coalition personnel was 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."
US military spokesman Colonel Myles Caggins said 12 more people from the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve were injured after more than 15 small rockets had hit the base.
Ali Al Dulaimy, a 28-year-old Iraqi journalist, filmed the attack from the town of Balad to the North of Taji.
Speaking to PA in Arabic through a translation tool, he said: "I heard screams and panic at the American forces inside the camp, and they were rushing to extinguish the fires that devoured the camp.
"There were soldiers shouting and sirens. It was in an agricultural area 10 km near the camp."
He added the rockets appeared to have been fired at "precise" targets.
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A statement by the task force public affairs office added: "Three Coalition personnel were killed during a rocket attack on Camp Taji. The names of the personnel are withheld pending next of kin notification, in accordance with national policies.
"Approximately 12 additional personnel were wounded during the attack. The attack is under investigation by the Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. Camp Taji is an Iraqi base that hosts Coalition personnel for training and advising missions.
"Approximately 18 107mm Katyusha rockets struck the base. The Iraqi Security Forces found a rocket-rigged truck, a few miles from Camp Taji."
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