Iran has fired more than a dozen rockets at two Iraqi military bases hosting US troops, the Pentagon has confirmed.
The rockets fired at the Ain al-Asad base in Anbar province and a base in Erbil early on Wednesday came amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iran apparently struck back in response to the killing a her Revolutionary Guards commander, Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Iraq last Friday. The Iranians had sworn revenge. The number of casualties are not yet known.
The strikes which came after Iran buried Soleimani, raised fears that the two longtime foes were closer to war. However, there were some indications that there would not be further retaliation on either side, at least in the short term.
Trump tweeted his response to the attack:
All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2020
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the attack was in retaliation for the death of Soleimani on Friday.
“We are warning all American allies, who gave their bases to its terrorist army, that any territory that is the starting point of aggressive acts against Iran will be targeted,” it said via a statement carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Netanyahu, Gallant And Al-Masri
Russia Fires Intercontinental Missile In Ukraine Attack — Kyiv
South African Police Raid Warehouses Amid Food Poisoning Deaths
Russian Missile Strike Kills Eight, Wounds 39 In Ukraine’s Odesa Region