Iran fires TENS of ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq in operation 'Martyr Soleimani' after promising 'crushing revenge' for Trump's decision to kill the top general in drone strike ping that round
- Tehran has tonight launched a missile attack on two Iraqi air bases
- The rockets hit Ain Asad which houses US and coalition troops
- Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan - which provides facilities and services to at least hundreds of coalition personnel and CIA operatives - was also attacked
- The Pentagon confirmed: 'At approximately 5.30pm (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition'
- Iran state TV said 'tens' of surface-to-surface missiles were launched Tuesday
- It's unclear if there are any casualties at the base where President Trump visited in December 2018
- Local reports initially suggested that five rockets had struck the al-Taji military base situated 30km north of Baghdad, after 'shelter in place' sirens were heard
- However, Kurdistan 24 reporter Barzan Sadiq later tweeted that the base was calm on Tuesday night and suggested the purported attack was likely just a drill
- Reports of the strike occurred just hours after a flurry of US airstrikes were carried out on militia bases in Western Iraq and Syria
s
Iran has fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing American troops in a revenge attack for the U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.
The Ayn al Asad airbase in western Iraq that was visited by Donald Trump in December 2018 and the Erbil base in Iraqi Kurdistan were both struck by the missiles on Tuesday at about 5.30pm (EST).
The Pentagon says the missiles were 'clearly launched from Iran' to target U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq. There was no immediate word on injuries but security sources told CNN that there were Iraqi casualties at the Al Asad airbase.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were spotted arriving at the White House soon after news of the strikes broke and President Trump was briefed on the attack.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which controls the country's missile program, confirmed that they fired the rockets in retaliation for last week's killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, according to state TV.
They reported the operation's name was 'Martyr Soleimani' and took place just hours after the slain general's funeral.
Tehran has tonight launched missile attack on two US bases in Iraq housing US and coalition troops, defense sources have revealed
The rockets hit Ain Asad (pictured) which houses US and coalition troops
The Pentagon confirmed: 'At approximately 5.30pm (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition'
The Pentagon said it was still working to assess the damage.
'In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners. These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces,' a statement from the Pentagon read.
'It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil. We are working on initial battle damage assessments.
'As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region.'
President Trump has been briefed on the rocket attacks, according to the White House.
'We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team,' White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was handed a note about the attack as she discussed the situation in Iran in a meeting with lawmakers.
Pelosi stopped the discussion the Steering Committee to report the news, according to Michigan Democrat Rep. Dan Kildee.
Rep. Debbie Dingell says Pelosi told them to 'pray'.
Trump had earlier told reporters about the prospect of an Iranian attack: 'We're totally prepared.'
'They're going to be suffering the consequences and very strongly,' he said from the Oval Office during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The Al Asad airbase in western Iraq - where Trump visited in December 2018 - was reported to have been hit by 35 missiles fired from inside Iran
Iran state TV says Tehran has launched 'tens' of surface-to-surface missiles at Iraq’s Ain Asad air base housing US troops
The base for American and coalition troops continued to get pelted with rockets with forces taking a third round Tuesday night, according to militarily sources
Iranian TV announces first response to Soleimani’s assassination.
There are confirmed reports of 6 missiles fired on US Airbase in Ain al-Asad (Anbar province) of Iraq. Casualties of US troops reported.
944 people are talking about this
It's unclear if there are any casualties at the base where President Trump visited in December 2018.
'These are either cruise missiles or short range ballistic missiles,' Fox News reported a senior US military source in a Iraq said. 'All over the country.'
The Al Asad base was hit by three barrages of missiles according to militarily sources at the location.
Early reports of an al-Taji military base attack were later reported as a drill on Tuesday but new reports say six rockets hit.
Local reports initially suggested that five rockets had struck the al-Taji military base, situated 30km north of Baghdad, after 'shelter in place' sirens were heard ringing out around the compound.
Sirens were also heard blaring out inside the US consulate in Erbil, in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, according to Al Ghad TV.
However, Kurdistan 24 reporter Barzan Sadiq later tweeted that the al-Taji base was calm on Tuesday night and suggested the purported attack was likely just a drill.
However, Kurdistan 24 reporter Barzan Sadiq later tweeted that the base was calm on Tuesday night and suggested the purported attack was likely just a drill
Kurdistan 24 reporter Barzan Sadiq later tweeted that the base was al-Taji calm on Tuesday night and suggested the purported attack was likely just a drill
Local reports initially suggested that five rocket had struck the al-Taji military base, situated 30km north of Baghdad, after 'shelter in place' siren were heard ringing out around the compound
Reports of the strike occurred just hours after a flurry of US airstrikes were carried out on militia bases in Western Iraq and Syria, targeting Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a paramilitary umbrella group that is part of the Iraqi government.
US forces were said to be specifically targeting the Kataib Hezbollah (KH), a faction within the PMU, in response to repeated attacks against US-led coalition forces in Iraq.
The targeted three KH bases in Iraq and two in Syria, under the belief each of the locations 'included weapon storage facilities and command and control locations that KH uses to plan and execute attacks on coalition forces.'
Trump had said troops should stay at the base to watch Iran.
'I want to be able to watch Iran,' Trump said in and interview with CBS’s Face the Nation in February 2019.
'We’re going to keep watching and we’re going to keep seeing and if there’s trouble, if somebody is looking to do nuclear weapons or other things, we’re going to know it before they do.'
Iran is considering its options against America in retaliation for the killing of Quds commander Qassem Soleimeni in Baghdad. The conflict could quickly spiral out of control, dragging in other world powers including Russia, Turkey and China
.jpg)
