Iran launches missiles at US forces in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Soleiman
Iran has fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi aircraft carrying US troops, the Pentagon said Tuesday in response to President Donald Trump's assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleiman.
The attack targeted the military bases of Ain Assad and Irbil in Iraq.
The Pentagon said it was trying to "assess the damage caused by genuine fighting". As of Tuesday night, no causal report was confirmed.
Crude oil prices rose after a missile attack. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 114 points in today's trade.
The Federal Aviation Administration will prohibit all US non-military flights operating in airspace above Iraq, Iran and the Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
Hours after the attack, Trump tweeted, "Everything's fine! The missile was fired from Iran at two military bases in Iraq. Victim and damage assessment is ongoing. So far! We have the most powerful and complete army in the world!"
Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that the country did not want tensions to rise. "Iran will begin and complete its relative efforts to defend itself, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, from a targeting base that will launch armed attacks against citizens and senior officials. We are not seeking expansion or war, but defending ourselves against aggression."
Criticism: President Nancy Pelosi tweeted that "America and the world cannot afford war."
"We must ensure the security of our forces, including ending unnecessary provocation by the regime and demanding that Iran stop its violence," he said.
Main Background: The United States and Iran have been on a collision course since Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. But tensions continued to rise last week when Trump ordered air strikes that killed Soleiman, the country's leading military leader, to help and finance the network proxy militia and Hamas.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday that Soleimani planned an attack on US interests in the days following his death, but did not provide details of intelligence supporting the plan. Meanwhile, Democrats called the air strike a rash decision that brought the US closer to a futile war with Iran.
Trump has promised to respond to Iran in response to each attack, saying he will target Iranian cultural sites (although the Pentagon later ruled out its recognition of war crimes).
The attack targeted the military bases of Ain Assad and Irbil in Iraq.
The Pentagon said it was trying to "assess the damage caused by genuine fighting". As of Tuesday night, no causal report was confirmed.
Crude oil prices rose after a missile attack. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 114 points in today's trade.
The Federal Aviation Administration will prohibit all US non-military flights operating in airspace above Iraq, Iran and the Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
Hours after the attack, Trump tweeted, "Everything's fine! The missile was fired from Iran at two military bases in Iraq. Victim and damage assessment is ongoing. So far! We have the most powerful and complete army in the world!"
Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that the country did not want tensions to rise. "Iran will begin and complete its relative efforts to defend itself, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, from a targeting base that will launch armed attacks against citizens and senior officials. We are not seeking expansion or war, but defending ourselves against aggression."
Criticism: President Nancy Pelosi tweeted that "America and the world cannot afford war."
"We must ensure the security of our forces, including ending unnecessary provocation by the regime and demanding that Iran stop its violence," he said.
Main Background: The United States and Iran have been on a collision course since Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. But tensions continued to rise last week when Trump ordered air strikes that killed Soleiman, the country's leading military leader, to help and finance the network proxy militia and Hamas.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday that Soleimani planned an attack on US interests in the days following his death, but did not provide details of intelligence supporting the plan. Meanwhile, Democrats called the air strike a rash decision that brought the US closer to a futile war with Iran.
Trump has promised to respond to Iran in response to each attack, saying he will target Iranian cultural sites (although the Pentagon later ruled out its recognition of war crimes).