Islamic State Lays Siege to Key Base at al-Baghdadi, Iraq

See Noah Rothman, at Hot Air, "That ISIS attack on an Iraqi military base was a lot worse than the Pentagon let on":

It sounded like a close call when the story broke. Little did we know how close it truly was.

On Thursday, the Pentagon disconfirmed reports that a successful ISIS assault on the al-Baghdadi district of Anbar Province culminated in an assault on the al-Asad Airbase. That 25-square mile facility houses 320 U.S. Marines and other American military personnel who are tasked with advising the Iraqi Security Forces in their fight against ISIS.

According to a Navy spokesperson, early reports that indicated the base had been surrounded and under assault were inaccurate. Only “ineffective indirect fire” near that base had been reported, the Navy insisted. Despite the fact that this facility has come under mortar and rocket attacks in the past, this particular assault was not a threat to American servicemen and women.

A CBS News report published on Friday morning indicated, however, that this attack was more threatening and coordinated than the Pentagon initially conceded. No fewer than eight militants and at least three suicide bombers penetrated al-Asad before they were dispatched by ISF troops. According to CBS News, however, American soldiers were deep enough inside the base at the time of the attack that they were in no immediate danger.

More.