Iran Launches Over A Dozen Missiles On Two Iraqi Bases Housing US Troops In Retaliation For Soleimani’s Killing

Days after US Killed Iranian Quds force head Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike near Baghdad’s airport, Iran has launched more than a dozen missiles at two Iraq-based bases holding the soldiers of the United States (US) and coalition forces, reports Bloomberg.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly taken the responsibility for the attack. A total of 15 rockets were launched, 10 of which hit the Ayn al-Asad base in western Iraq and another facility in Erbil, US officials said.

However, there were no initial reports of any US casualties, but an assessment of the impact of the strikes is underway, said an US official, CNN has reported.

Following the attack, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley arrived at the White House.

Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif has said that Iran does not "seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression".

"Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched," Zarif said.