At approximately 1730 EST on Jan. 7, Iran launched at least a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq.
According to US Department of Defense, it is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases housing U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil.
Reports indicate that Iran more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi bases that houses U.S. forces in what appears to be retaliation for the American airstrike that killed a top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last week.
Iran Claims Responsibility
Though US military officials have refuted that there no reports of any U.S. casualties saying an assessment of the impact of the strikes is underway, Iran has claimed the responsibility of the attack conducted in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter.
Iranian state TV reported that the IRGC, “has hit U.S. Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq with tens of missiles.” The IRGC warned the U.S. of more “crushing responses in case of new aggression,” according to state TV. The IRGC said it will target any regional state that becomes a platform for US aggression, a second banner on state TV read.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Twitter said that the response was meant to be proportionate to the American attack that killed Soleimani.
A preliminary report from an Iraqi security source indicated there were Iraqi casualties, but Iraqi security officials later told media that there were no casualties among Iraqi security forces.
The initial assessment is that the Iranian missiles struck areas of the al-Asad base not populated by Americans, according to a U.S. military official and a senior administration official.
Iran launched more than a dozen missiles at the al-Asad airbase, which houses US troops, and American and coalition forces in the town of Erbil. U.S. officials said Pentagon is assessing the damage done by the attacks.
According to U.S. Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper, following Iran’s threats, the United States has deployed troops, repositioning them throughout in Middle East to bolster U.S. security and force protection; and are prepared for any contingency, Defense Secretary.
