Iranian forces launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases in Iraq early Wednesday local time, marking the most significant Iranian attack in a growing conflict with the United States.
The al-Asad air base in western Iraq, which houses some U.S. troops, was hit by at least six missiles, according to a U.S. defense official familiar with the situation. In a tweet late Tuesday, President Trump proclaimed “All is well!” and vowed to address the nation on the situation Wednesday morning.
No U.S. casualties were immediately reported, but Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that dozens of U.S. troops were killed in revenge for a U.S. airstrike last week that killed a top Iranian commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
Here’s what we know so far:
● Iranian forces launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against two military bases in Iraq and claimed that at least 80 U.S. troops were killed. U.S. military said it was still assessing casualties.
● Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called the attack a “slap in the face” of the United States but said more needed to be done to end the U.S. presence in the region and avenge Soleimani’s death.
● President Trump will make a statement Wednesday.
● Airlines around the world are rerouting flights away from Iranian and Iraqi airspace.
● Iraq’s prime minister said he was informed of the attack ahead of time.
