ISIS is getting closer and closer to engaging U.S. troops. Good thing their last attack failed completely. Yahoo/AP

Iraqi troops stationed at the Al-Asad air base. Yahoo/AP

An ISIS attack on an airbase where U.S. troops are training Iraqi's has been completely pushed back. Yahoo/AP. The ISIS fighters started the attack on Al-Asad airbase with the detonation of several suicide vests. 15 more gunmen attacked as well but were defeated and killed by Iraqi troops, with no Iraqi casualties. The attack comes after the first victory of ISIS in Iraq in several months. ISIS fighters took control of the town of Al-Baghdadi, which is near the airbase. No U.S. fighters were involved in the battle and none were in any danger, but the attack marks the first time ISIS has attacked a base where U.S. troops were serving. U.S. drones and attack helicopters responded to the scene but by the time they got there the battle was over. 

My Comment:

Good on the Iraqis on winning this skirmish with no casualties. Considering the ISIS fighters had Iraqi uniforms, which is a war crime by the way, this could have gone much worse. It is good to know that the Iraqi troops were on their game. It's also good to know that the suicide bombers died with absolutely no effect on friendly troops. Perhaps if other perspective suicide bombers hear about this failure they will consider not blowing themselves up. People might be willing to blow them selves up if they think they will take a bunch of people with them, but not if they die alone for nothing. 

As for U.S. forces, none were in any actual danger, but the attack means that they may be in the future. With ISIS on the march in the area, it is possible that ISIS will follow up this attack with another one. U.S. troops have plenty of experience fighting militants so I'm confident if they do get attacked that they will win any battle. Especially with the last attack failing so spectacularly. 

Of course if U.S. troops do get involved with actual combat with ISIS that would go against Barack Obama's pledge to keep U.S. troops out of combat. If any of those troops get hurt then it might bring pressure on the president to either withdraw from the country or expand the number of security forces there. Either way it goes against what the president wants to do. He wants a small commitment where U.S. troops have a secondary role. The last thing Obama wants is headlines where U.S. troops are engaged with the enemies. That will distract from his actual priorities, which have always been domestic in nature.