Iran is claiming responsibility for the multiple missiles fired at US military bases in Iraq, just hours after the commander, Gen.Qassem Soleimani’s funeral. The attack late Tuesday appears to be a retaliation for the US drone attack that killed its top general and commander of the special Quds forces.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps immediately took credit for the attack in a statement “We warn the great Satan, the arrogant American regime that any new invasions and aggression will result in more painful and pounding responses.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also followed up with a tweet, “Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defence under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which the cowardly armed attack against our citizens and senior officials were launched.”
“We do not seek an escalation of the war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression, ” he added.
The US President has since responded in a tweet, ” All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties and damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well-equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
As expected, these developments further deepen tensions and fear of another war in the middle east.
Pentagon spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman revealed the attacks of more than a dozen ballistic missiles were launched from Iran starting at about 5:30 P.M. EST. 10 of the missiles were said to have hit the Al Asad airbase and another base, Erbil in northern Iraq, four other missiles were believed to have failed in flight.
“It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al Asad and Irbil,” the Pentagon spokesman wrote.
According to a report by the Iranian state-run news outfit ISNA, the IRGC airforce launched the “Operation Martyr Soleimani” with the code “Oh Zahra” by firing tens of ground to ground missiles at the base of the terrorist and invasive U.S. forces.
The attacks are seen as initial efforts to avenge the U.S. targeted killing of the Quds Force commander, General Soleimani.
The general’s remains had been taken back to his home town for burial just a few hours before the missile attacks began, the burial had been delayed due to a stampede during the massive funeral procession which left 50 people dead.
The US blamed Soleimani for the recent death of an American military contractor and a roadside bomb attack that killed 600 American troops in Iraq.
Vladimir Chimaobi reporting, Obinwannem News
