Iran Attacks U.S. Military Facilities In Iraq

The strike on the al-Asad and Erbil bases represent the first known retaliation to Trump’s killing of an Iranian commander. Reportedly no Americans were killed.

Iran attacked at least two bases in Iraq that house American military forces on Wednesday morning local time, Iranian and U.S. officials said.

It launched ballistic missiles in its first move against the U.S. since President Donald Trump ordered an American drone strike to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, dramatically escalating tensions between the two countries. The offensive did not cause any casualties among American or Iraqi forces, AP reported Wednesday.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — the branch of the country’s military in which Soleimani served — directed the assault, it told Iranian and American media.

“The brave soldiers of IRGC’s aerospace unit have launched a successful attack with tens of ballistic missiles on Al Assad military base in the name of martyr Gen. [Qassem] Soleimani,” read an IRGC statement sent to New York Times reporter Farnaz Fassihi.

The Iranians targeted al-Asad airbase and a base in Erbil in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in an emailed statement to journalists.

“We are working on initial battle damage assessments,” Hoffman added. “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.”

Trump monitored the situation, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said.

Tehran launched 15 missiles, four of which failed in flight, a defense official told the Los Angeles Times. U.S. radar detected those targeted at al-Asad, which meant soldiers there could take cover.