Iran attacks Iraqi airbases housing US troops. It claimed "80 US terrorists were killed" in the attack.
Here are the latest updates on U.S.-Iran tensions after the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Iran has retaliated this morning by launching rocket strikes at the US military base at Al Asad in Iraq.
US-Iran tensions HIGHLIGHTS on January 8:
22:00 pm: President Donald Trump says that no Americans were harmed in the attack by Iran on US bases in Iraq as he offered to embrace peace with the Iranian leadership, in a significant move to de-escalate spiralling tensions in the Middle East. "We suffered no casualties. All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases."
4.10 pm: Chinese media reports say state oil company China National Petroleum Corporation has evacuated about 20 employees from the West Qurna-1 oil field in Iraq as a result of the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. No details were given, and company spokespeople could not immediately be reached for comment. The news followed the Iranian missile strike that targeted two military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. The attack was in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike that killed Iran's top commander last week near the Baghdad airport.
4.00 PM: Iraq says both Iran, US notified it of attack
The Iraqi prime ministry says Iran notified Iraq shortly after midnight that its response to the killing of its top military commander had begun, and that retaliation would be limited to locations where the U.S. military is present. Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s office said in a statement Wednesday that Iraq was simultaneously informed by the Americans that military bases in Ain al-Asad and Irbil were under missile attack.
The office says it has received no reports of casualties on the Iraqi side and has not been officially notified of any losses among the U.S.-led coalition.
“Iraq refuses any violation of its sovereignty and any attacks on its territory,” the statement said.
It added that Iraq is doing everything in its power to contain the situation to avoid a “devastating all-out war."
All the lights are on in the windows of the West Wing of the White House after news of a missile attack on an Iraqi air base housing U.S. troops, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
3.20 PM: Britain says none of its citizens killed, condemns Iran missile strike in Iraq
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the Iranian missile strike against bases hosting coalition forces in Iraq and urged Iran to refrain from further military action. The Ministry of Defense said Wednesday there were no British casualties in the attack launched in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Iran's top Revolutionary Guard commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad last week.
U.S. officials have said there are no immediate reports of U.S. casualties.
"We urge Iran not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks, and instead to pursue urgent de-escalation,'' Raab said. “A war in the Middle East would only benefit Daesh (the Islamic State group) and other terrorist groups.” Coalition forces are in Iraq to train local forces to fight the extremists.
Tom Tugenhat, the chairman of the defense committee during the previous Parliament, told the BBC it would be "extremely welcome" if Iran's action marked the end of tensions and both sides could “get back to talking."
2.20 PM: China concerned on US-Iran tensions
China’s foreign ministry has expressed concern about the spike in tensions in the Middle East and says it hopes matters can swiftly “cool off.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters Wednesday that Beijing has called for restraint by all sides and is in close consultation with the governments involved, including at the United Nations and through China's embassy in Baghdad.
He spoke after the Iranian missile strike at bases in Iraq used by U.S. forces but did not address it directly.
Geng also accused the U.S. of abusing the rights of people in the region through its military actions.
2.00 PM: Germany has condemned the Iranian missile strike at bases in Iraq used by U.S. forces. Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Wednesday the government "rejects this aggression in the sharpest possible terms." She told German public broadcaster ARD that "it's now particularly up to the Iranians not to engage in further escalation.' None of the German troops stationed in Iraq were injured.
It joined several European countries in saying their troops in Iraq were not harmed, including France, Poland, Denmark and Finland.
(AP report)
Mourners gather during a funeral procession for Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Basra, Iraq, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. Thousands of people gathered in Basra on Tuesday to bid farewell to Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a senior Iraqi militia commander who was killed in a US airstrike on Friday. (AP Photo)
12:40 pm: Amid tensions with US, Iran in a statement said that it will welcome any peace initiative by India for de-escalating its tensions with the US after the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani. The Iranian envoy said on Wednesday.
His comments have come hours after Iran launched missile strikes against two US military bases in Iraq in retaliation to the killing of its top commander General Qassem Soleimani.
"India usually plays very good role in (maintaining) peace in the world. At the same time India belongs to this region. We welcome all initiatives from all countries, especially India as a good friend for us, to not allow escalation (of tensions)," Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni told reporters after a condolence meeting for Solemani at the country's embassy.
11:30 am: Iran's Press TV has reported that at least 80 people have been killed in Iran missile attacks on US bases in Iraq. However, the Press TV cannot independently verify the reports on the number of casualties.
11:00 am: Amid US-Iran tension, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that they had held meetings with the concerned Airlines and have sensitized them to remain vigilant and take all precautions. Meanwhile, the government has also asked all Indian carriers to avoid airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf following tension in the region.
10:40 am: The Indian embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq.
10:30 am: In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification. Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq.
10:09 am: The strikes, which came as Iran buried Soleimani, raised fears that the two longtime foes were closer to war. But there were some indications that there would not be further retaliation on either side, at least in the short term.
09:15 am: Issuing a statement after the missile attack, Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said they took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens and senior officials were launched. We do not seek escalation or a war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression."
08:37 am: Meanwhile, as anguish over the killing of its top general escalates, Iran has threatened to hit Israel and even Dubai if US retaliates after missiles targeted Iraqi bases housing US troops.
08:33 am: Two ballistic missiles hit separate areas in Erbil, two Kurdish while one missile landed inside the perimeter of Erbil International Airport without exploding. Another missile hit an area roughly 20 miles west of Erbil without causing casualties.
08:25 am: Attacks were "hard revenge" for the death of Soleimani, said Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and also asked American citizens to demand the government remove US troops from the region.
"To the Great Satan ... we warn that if you repeat your wickedness or take any additional movements or make additional aggression, we will respond with more painful and crushing responses," IRGC mentioned in a statement to US.
08:17 am: In his first statement after Iran targeted bases in Iraq housing US troops, President Donald Trump said, "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."
08:09 am: Meanwhile attacking his Republican competitor, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said that Trump's escalation of tensions with Iran proves him to be "dangerously incompetent" and puts the US on the brink of war.
Speaking in New York, Biden said Trump used a "haphazard" decision-making process to order the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and failed to communicate the rationale to Congress or US allies around the world.
Biden said Trump instead offered "tweets, threats and tantrums" that prove the Republican president to be "dangerously incompetent and incapable of world leadership."
08:08 am: The Federal Aviation Administration is barring US pilots and carriers from flying in areas of Iraqi, Iranian and some Persian Gulf airspace.The agency is warning of the "potential for miscalculation or mis-identification" for civilian aircraft amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran.
08:00 am: Hours after Iran targeted bases in Iraq housing US troops, US helicopters, jets took a flight over air-bases in Iraq which were hit by Iran.
07:58 am: A video has been released by new agency ANI showing how Iran launched over a dozen ballistic missiles at 5:30 pm.(EST) on January 7 and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil, in Iraq.
07:31 am: Federal Aviation Administration bars US pilots and carriers from flying in areas of Iraqi, Iranian and some Persian Gulf airspace
Iran launches rocket attacks at US troops in Baghdad, claims 80 killed
In a major escalation to the ongoing US-Iran tensions over Soleimani's killing, Iran early Wednesday fired a series of ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing US troops. According to Iranian state TV, the missile attack by Iran comes as a revenge for the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who last week died in an American drone strike near Baghdad prompted angry calls to avenge his slaying. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has decided to unilaterally withdraw America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
After the strikes, a former Iranian nuclear negotiator posted a picture of the Islamic Republic’s flag on Twitter, appearing to mimic Trump who posted an American flag following the killing of Soleimani and others Friday in a drone strike in Baghdad.
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