At least two airbases housing US troops in Iraq have been hit by more than a dozen ballistic missiles.
Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday in retaliation for the US drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.
Tehran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from Iranian territory against at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition personnel at about 1.30am local time, the US military said on Tuesday.
Footage broadcast on Iranian TV appears to show a number of missiles being fired into the sky, as well as explosions from missiles believed to be landing at Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq, which hosts U.S. forces.
The Pentagon did not provide reports of casualties in the attack.
US President Donald Trump said in a tweet late on Tuesday that an assessment of casualties and damage from the strikes was under way and that he would make a statement on Wednesday morning.
“All is well!” Trump, who visited the al-Asad air base in December 2018, said in the Twitter post.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps confirmed they fired the missiles in retaliation for last week’s killing of Qassem Soleimani, according to a statement on state TV.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran “took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter”, targeting the bases where the attack against its citizens and senior officials was launched.
If the US military was indeed spared casualties, and Iran has completed its threatened retaliation for the US drone strike on Soleimani, as Zarif suggested, there might be an opportunity for Washington and Tehran to seek an off-ramp to their increasingly violent confrontation.
Asian stock markets, which had been roiled by the attack, pared some of their losses after the tweets from Trump and Zarif. US crude prices also retreated after surging almost 5 per cent on worries any conflict could cut oil supplies.
The latest on US-Iran tensions in the wake of the US airstrike that killed Iran’s top general:
8:44am
80 US troops killed in missile strikes: Iranian state TV
Iranian state television said on Wednesday that at least 80 “US troops” were killed in attacks involving 15 missiles Tehran launched on US targets in Iraq, adding that none of the missiles were intercepted.
State TV, citing a senior Revolutionary Guards source, also said Iran had 100 other targets in the region in its sights if Washington took any retaliatory measures. It also said US helicopters and military equipment were “severely damaged”.
8:40am
India issues travel warning on Iraq
India on Wednesday issued a travel warning asking its citizens to avoid “non-essential” travel to Iraq, hours after Iran launched missile attacks on US-led forces in Iraq.
In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq,” it said, adding that the Indian embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil remain operational.
8:30am
Philippines orders citizens in Iraq to leave
The Philippines has ordered its citizens to leave Iraq, the Philippine foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
“The alert level in the entire Iraq has been raised to alert level 4 calling for mandatory evacuation,” said Eduardo Menez, spokesman at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
A Philippine coastguard patrol vessel, newly acquired from France and en route to the Philippines, was ordered to sail to Oman and Dubai to assist Filipinos who may need to be extricated.
“Overseas Filipino workers will be brought to safer ports where there may be airlifted, as the need arises,” the coastguard said in a statement.
8:20am
Japan calls for easing of Middle East tensions
Japan says it will urge governments to do their utmost to help ease tensions following an Iranian missile strike at bases in Iraq used by US forces.
The strike came in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian general.
Japanese Chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that his “government will coordinate with the related governments to collect intelligence while we ensure the safety of Japanese citizens in the region.”
He added: “Japan will also urge all related nations to do their utmost diplomatic effort to improve the relations.”
8:05am
Australia says its troops in Iraq are safe
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says all of his country’s troops and diplomatic staff in Iraq are safe after Iran’s firing of missiles at two military bases there.
Around 300 Australian defense personnel are stationed in Iraq.
Morrison said he spoke with President Donald Trump about the situation between the U.S. and Iran on Tuesday during a call about the wildfires raging in Australia.
Sepaking to reporters Wednesday, Morrison said in reference to the killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani: “The United States have taken the action that they have to address what has been intelligence that they say that they received, which was putting their interests at risks and under threat.”
7:55am
Ukrainian airplane crashes near Tehran
A Ukrainian airplane carrying 180 passengers and crew crashed Wednesday near an airport in the capital, Tehran, state TV reported. There was no immediate word on casualties.
The plane had taken off from Imam Khomeini International Airport, the report said. The crash is suspected to have been caused by mechanical issues, it added, without elaborating.
An investigation team was at the site of the crash in southwestern outskirts of Tehran, civil aviation spokesman Reza Jafarzadeh said.
7:45am
Iran’s missiles hit intended US targets in Iraq, source tells state TV
Iranian missiles hit intended U.S. targets in Iraq on Wednesday, Iran’s English-language Press TV quoted an unnamed source as saying, after Tehran launched missile attacks on U.S.-led forces.
“Missile tracking shows they hit intended American targets in Iraq,” television said.
7:10am
Trump tweets ‘All is well!’ after missile attack
President Donald Trump says “All is well!” after more than a dozen Iranian missiles were fired at two bases housing US troops in Iraq.
Trump tweets that casualty and damage assessments are ongoing but adds, “So far, so good!”
All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & 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.6:50am
Iran calls missile attack ‘self-defense’
Iran is not seeking escalation or war, Iranian Foreign Minister tweeted after Tehran hit US targets in Iraq on Wednesday, adding that Tehran would defend itself 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. We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression,” Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted.
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.
We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.6:40am
General buried after stampede, missile attack
Iran has buried a top Revolutionary Guard general slain by US airstrike in Baghdad after a stampede at his funeral killed 56 and Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases housing American troops in response.
Officials lowered the shroud-wrapped remains of Qassem Soleimani into the ground in the southeastern city of Kerman just before 6am Wednesday.
Mourners at the grave site wailed.
6:00am
Iran minister tells US: “Get the hell out of our region”
After Iran launched missile attacks on US targets in Iraq, the country’s telecommunication minister tweeted: “Get the hell out of our region” in Iran’s first official reaction to the attacks.
5:45am
FAA restricts US flights over Iran, Iraq
The US Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it would ban US carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq.
5:43am
Intense military jet activity over Iraq capital
Military jets could be seen flying over the Iraqi capital early Wednesday, hours after Tehran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases where US troops are located.
AFP’s correspondents saw jets cutting through the clouds over Baghdad but could not immediately identify the planes.
5:40am
Japan PM Abe to cancel weekend trip to Middle East
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will cancel plans to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman this weekend, TV Asahi reported on Wednesday.
Kyodo News reported separately that Abe convened a National Security Conference (NSC) meeting, likely to discuss Iran’s attack on US forces based in Iraq.
5:00am
Vice President Mike Pence has briefed top Democrats in Congress on the Iranian strikes on installations in Iraq holding US forces.
Aides to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer both confirmed the lawmakers spoke with the vice president by telephone Tuesday.
Justin Goodman, a spokesman for Schumer, says the New York Democrat is closely monitoring the situation and is praying for the safety of service members and other personnel.
Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted that the speaker returned a call from the vice president moments after presiding over the House.
Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for the vice president, says Pence has been in continuous contact with national security officials and made calls to congressional leadership at President Donald Trump’s direction.
4:15am
The Pentagon is confirming that Iran has launched “more than a dozen ballistic missiles” at two targets hosting against US military and coalition forces in Iraq.
Defense Department spokesman Jonathan Hoffman says “It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran.”
He says the attacks “targeted at least two Iraqi military bases” at Ain Assad and Irbil.
Hoffman says the US is “working on initial battle damage assessments.”
Iranian state TV says the attack was in revenge for the killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qasem Soleimani, whose funeral Tuesday prompted angry calls to avenge his death.
