UPDATE: 6:46PM
12s ago
23:45
Julian Borger Julian Borger
From The Guardian’s Julian Borger:
An air base in Iraq’s Anbar province that hosts a US contingent has came under fire, the US military confirmed, after a day in which Donald Trump and the Iranian leadership exchanged threats of retaliatory attacks.
Initial reports said al-Asad base was hit by six rockets. It has previously been a target of an Iranian-backed Shia militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah, whose attacks on US and coalition troops triggered tit-for-tat strikes that culminated in the killing on Friday of top Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
There were also unconfirmed reports of missile attacks elsewhere in Iraq.
Earlier in the day, the secretary of Iran’s national security council, Ali Shamkhani, said 13 “revenge scenarios” were being considered in the wake of the assassination of Qassem Suleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds force, and that even the most limited options would be a “historic nightmare” for the US.
Ali Shamkhani told the Tasnim news agency: “The 27 US bases that are closest to Iran’s border are already on high alert; they know that the response is likely to include medium-range & long-range missiles.”
Trump responded to Iranian threats in remarks to the press at the White House “We’re totally prepared. And likewise, we’re prepared to attack if we have to,” he said.
UPDATE: 6:35
Video claims to show launch (from a distance) of Iranian missiles, “The first film of Operation # Revenge”
Video:
🔴اولين فيلم از عمليات #انتقام_سخت#قاسم_سليماني t.co/CQIHHKCiAO pic.twitter.com/CjFnLIxbrr
— Mahdi Bakhtiari (@Mahdiibakhtiari) January 7, 2020
Urgent /// Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim begins to avenge the firing of Iranian ballistic missiles at the Iraqi base in Iraq, which is home to US forces.
Pic:
🔴فوري///بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
آغاز انتقام
شلیک موشکهای بالستیک ایرانی به سمت پایگاه عینالاسد در عراق که محل استقرار نیروهای آمریکایی است، میدهند.#كرمانشاه #قاسم_سليماني pic.twitter.com/N6NLmdvhUl— Mahdi Bakhtiari (@Mahdiibakhtiari) January 7, 2020
Missiles launched on US airbase in Iraq – live updates
3m ago
18:42
According to Iran state TV, Tehran has launched “tens” of surface-to-surface missiles toward Iraq’s Ain Assad air base, which houses US troops.
US military officials have confirmed to reporters that at least six rockets fell on the air base.
Liz Sly
✔
@LizSly
The US military confirms an ongoing rocket attack on Al-Asad airbase where US troops are based. It’s the one Trump said Iraq would have to pay for if the US leaves.
1,052
6:04 PM – Jan 7, 2020
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—
At Least 5 Missiles Strike American Base North Of Baghdad
by Tyler Durden
Tue, 01/07/2020 – 16:44
Update: The Jerusalem Post has apparently picked up reports from Iran’s Fars news agency claiming that at least five rockets have hit Taji, potentially placing the lives of American troops in peril.
That means the reports of the attack, which were first circulated by unconfirmed accounts, have now been vetted by the mainstream press. Though some on social media claim that people on the ground in the area don’t see any signs of the attack, and are skeptical that this might be another Iranian attempt at disruptive media hacking.
READ MORE:
www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/missile-strike-reportedly-carried-out-against-us-base-iraq
“And, as we noted below, markets are taking the news seriously.
Get ready for more hysteria about the dawn of WWIII.
…
The base is called Taji camp, and it’s situated about 17 miles north of Baghdad. Notably, US troops are housed at the camp.”
“If this is an Iranian attack, it’s notable that it’s coming at the end of the four days of mourning for General Qasem Suleimani, who was killed last week in an audacious drone strike ordered by President Trump while Suleimani was attending a meeting in Baghdad.”
Tue 7 Jan 2020 14.56 EST
First published on Tue 7 Jan 2020 11.47 EST
Iran threatens to hit US bases with medium- and long-range missiles
-Tehran has list of 13 retaliation options for Suleimani killing Military leader
-vows ‘tough, strong, decisive’ revenge
“The US-led coalition to counter Isis is also repositioning its forces to lessen their vulnerability to attack. Britain’s defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said that non-essential personnel were being moved from Baghdad to Taji, around 30km to the north.”
Read more:
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/07/iran-threatens-us-bases-missiles-retaliation-suleimani
Breakfast or retaliation?
Malcolm Nance
@MalcolmNance
Taji is one of the largest bases in Iraq. 4 rockets is what we used to call breakfast. This is NOT Iran’s retaliation. It was a daily occurrence for almost 10 years.
Taji is one of the largest bases in Iraq. 4 rockets is what we used to call breakfast. This is NOT Iran’s retaliation. It was a daily occurrence for almost 10 years. t.co/aL8lTf1Toe
— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) January 7, 2020
Iran
@Iran
Waiting for tonight,
We’ve dreamed of this for so long
Waiting for tonight…#SvereRevenge #Iran
1,950
11:32 AM – Jan 7, 2020
Waiting for tonight,
We've dreamed of this for so long
Waiting for tonight…#SvereRevenge #Iran— Iran (@Iran) January 7, 2020
Jim Hoft
@gatewaypundit
Breaking: Reports Iran Fired Ballistic Missiles at US Troops at Al Assad Base in Iraq
@RealDonaldTrump
@KristinnFR
Video claims to show launch (from a distance) of Iranian missiles, “The first film of Operation # Revenge”
h/t Inquire Within