The Attack on the Al-Kut Air Base was a terrorist attack against a military air base in Al-Kut, Iraq perpetrated by a local group of insurgents with the Ten Rings. Iron Man got news of the incident and arrived at the area, quickly defeating the terrorists and saving local civilians, United Nations peace troops, and a WHiH World News crew.
Background[]
Against S.H.I.E.L.D.'s wishes, Tony Stark announced to the world that he was the superhero known as Iron Man.[1] He soon began working on military missions to combat terrorism around the globe, especially those involving the Ten Rings, often without official permission or against military orders. Iron Man attacked a depot in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan in which the Ten Rings worked with rogue Russian nationalists to take hostages. He defeated the terrorists and saved all the hostages.[2]
Attack[]
A group of insurgents associated with the Ten Rings attacked an Al-Kut air base, killing many people, including United Nations peacekeeping troops. As local civilians were forced into hiding, a WHiH World News began documenting the insurgent attacks, hoping to gain aid from Iron Man. J.A.R.V.I.S. detected the situation and alerted Stark moments before the United States Armed Forces. Stark was officially ordered by Colonel James Rhodes to do reconnaissance on the air base, but he instead decided to directly intervene to save more lives.
Iron Man flew to the air base and crashed into a convoy shooting at the UN, destroying it. A couple insurgents began shooting at Iron Man, but his armor protected him from the gunfire and he blasted them with his repulsor in retaliation. A horde of enemy missiles then landed around Iron Man and detonated. However, he survived the ambush and unleashed his own missiles against the rest of the insurgents, killing them and destroying their ammunition.[2]
Aftermath[]
After confirming the insurgents' deaths, Iron Man checked on the WHiH World News crew that alerted him of the situation, who took shelter with the locals. Stark received permission from their superiors to download footage of his actions for Stark Industries' public relations department before leaving Al-Kut. With the threat neutralized, the Red Cross arrived at the scene with the United States Armed Forces to provide aid to the wounded.
WHiH World News reported on the conflict, noting how Iron Man's presence both escalated the fight and quickly resolved it. Meanwhile, the United States government grew increasingly wary of Iron Man's tactics without official military sanctioning. Senator Stern discussed Stark's actions with Colonel James Rhodes and introduced him to General Thaddeus Ross. Ross wanted the military to work without Iron Man if he refused to cooperate and revealed to them a prototype vehicle to be used in future battles.
Although the Ten Rings were defeated in Al-Kut, they continued their agenda of destabilization by planting explosives throughout a landmine-ridden desert outside Kabul. Iron Man cleaned the desert, recognizing the terrorists' message.[2]