U.S. media reports say Iran has launched 15 ballistic missiles at two military bases used by U.S. forces in Iraq in retaliation to the airs strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani five days ago.
Citing a U.S. Defense official, Los Angeles Times says eleven missiles hit the bases in western and northern Iraq and four failed in flight.
According to him, there were no confirmed reports of American casualties in that attack.
CBS News says Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of the president and an outspoken hardliner on Iran, called the ballistic missile strike by Iran “an act of war” and said that Mr. Trump has “all the authority he needs under Article II to respond.” Graham reportedly spoke with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity Tuesday evening.
There was no immediate U.S. military response or statement from President Trump after the barrage, although he tweeted that he would address the nation on Wednesday. Aides said he had been briefed and was monitoring the crisis with his national security advisors.
Meanwhile, Chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major-General Mohammad Baqeri said today that Iran's response to any new wickedness from the US will be stronger and more crushing.
According to IRNA, Baqeri made the remarks talking about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) proportionate reciprocity operation carried out early on Wednesday and targeted the US airbase of Ain al-Assad in Anbar province in western Iraq in response to the US January 3 assassination of the IRGC Qods Force commander, Lieutenant-General Qasem Soleimani.
General Baqeri reportedly said the IRGC operation was just a small part of the capabilities of the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces.
An informed source reportedly told IRNA that the US planes got fired after the base was targeted by the IRGC ballistic missiles.
