The Latest: Iran fires missiles at military base housing U.S. force in Iraq, Pentagon confirms

Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 11:10:03|Editor: huaxia
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The latest on U.S.-Iran tensions:

Screenshot of Ayn al-Asad airbase in Iraq on the map.

4:58 am

BAGHDAD, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran fired missiles Wednesday at Iraqi military airbase which houses U.S. troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar, an Iraqi provincial security source said.

Ayn al-Asad airbase in al-Baghdadi area, some 190 km northwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, was pounded with more than 20 ballistic missiles before dawn, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

There were no immediate reports about casualties, the source said.

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File photo taken on July 11, 2018 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

20:48 pm

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that Iran had launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq.

"At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq," the Pentagon said in a statement.

"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-Assad & Irbil," the statement added.

These bases have been on high alert due to indications that Iran planned to attack the U.S. forces and interests in the region, the statement noted.

The Pentagon also pointed out that it would take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the White House in Washington D.C. Dec. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The White House said earlier that it had noticed the reports of attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, saying that President Donald Trump is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team.

The missile attack came hours after Trump's latest warning to Iran earlier in the same day.

"If Iran does anything that they shouldn't be doing, they're going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly," Trump told reporters in the White House.

Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad airport on Friday, raising fears of an uncontrolled escalation in the region.

Commander of the IRGC Hossein Salami warned the United States on Tuesday that Iran would take "severe revenge" over its assassination of Soleimani.

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Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows the skyline in Baghdad, capital city of Iraq. Baghdad is under the spotlight after Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was killed in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3. (Xinhua/Zhang Miao)

4:17 am

TEHRAN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has fired "tens of surface-to-surface missiles" at the U.S. airbase in Anbar province in western Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Press TV reported Wednesday.

The IRGC has called for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Arab country and said that it would not differentiate between the United States and Israel in retaliation against the assassination of the Iranian general, according to the report.

Iran has vowed to take a "harsh revenge" for Soleimani's death. The IRGC said it would release more details about the strikes.

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3:45 am

BAGHDAD, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran fired missiles Wednesday striking on Iraqi military airbase, which houses U.S. troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a security source told Xinhua.

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19:25 pm

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that Iran had launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq.

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19:10 pm

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States is monitoring reported rocket attack on the country's airbase in Iraq, the White House announced Tuesday.

"We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The president ... is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team," the White House said in a statement.

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People hold posters during the funeral ceremony of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 6, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

3:37 am

TEHRAN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has fired "tens of surface-to-surface missiles" at the U.S. airbase in Anbar province in western Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Press TV reported Wednesday.

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3:29 am (Tehran time)

Breaking: Iran's IRGC attacks U.S. airbase in Iraq -- Press TV

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18:59 pm (Washington time)

Breaking: U.S. monitoring reports of rocket attack on airbase in Iraq: White House

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Breaking: Iraqi airbase housing U.S. troops under rocket attacks: Media

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