Tehran has launched a missile attack on two Iraqi air bases housing US troops, a retaliatory attack for the killing of their top general, according to the Pentagon and Iran state TV.
More than a dozen ballistic missiles were fired from Iran at the Al-Assad and Irbil air bases, according to a Pentagon spokesman.
“We are working on initial battle damage assessments,” the statement said.
Details on fatalities and injuries are unclear.
Iran state TV described the strike as revenge for the US attack last Thursday near Baghdad airport that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
After the attack, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned the U.S. and its regional allies against retaliating over the missile attack in Iraq. The Guard issued the warning via a statement carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
“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,” the Guard said. It also threatened Israel.
U.S. forces could not be immediately reached for comment. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the White House is aware of the reports.
“The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team,” she said.
Al-Assad air base is in Iraq’s western Anbar province. It was first used by American forces after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. It later saw American troops stationed there amid the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
State TV said the operation’s name was “Martyr Soleimani.” It said the Guard’s aerospace division that controls Iran’s missile program launched the attack. Iran said it would release more information later.
With Post wires
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