US troops knew Iran strike was coming hours ahead

QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and ALI ABDUL-HASSAN Associated Press AIN AL-ASAD BASE, Iraq (AP) — American troops were informed of an imminent attack hours before a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles struck a key Iraqi airbase hosting their forces, U.S. military officials said on Monday, days after the attack which marked a major escalation between the longtime foes. At 11:00 p.m. on Jan. 6, U.S. Lt. Col. Antoinette Chase gave the order for American troops at Ain al-Asad air base, in western Iraq, to go on lockdown. Military movements froze as her team, responsible for emergency response at the base, sent out alerts keeping them up to date about the incoming threat. At 11:30 she gave the order to take cover in bunkers. The first strike landed sometime after 1:35 in the morning, and the barr