The United States military was attacked tonight by the forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Numerous ballistic missiles were launched from Iranian territory into Iraq targeting US servicemembers based at Al Asad airbase as well as other facilities.
As The Daily Mail reports:
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.
PENTAGON statement :
• More than Dozen ballistic missiles launched from Iran
• Targeted at least 2 US joint bases in Iraq
• Working on damage assessment
• Defenses been reinforced
• Evaluating situation pic.twitter.com/YaXPbW5WG1— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) January 8, 2020
There is no word yet on potential US casualties or the extent of the damage as the situation is still developing.
President Trump is expected to directly address the nation later tonight.
