By TZVI JOFFRE, REUTERS
US President Donald Trump said that "all is well" on Wednesday morning, after Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles and targeted US bases in Iraq on Tuesday night in retaliation for the killing of former Iran's Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani last week.
"Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq," the president tweeted. "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."
The Pentagon confirmed that more than a dozen ballistic missiles had been fired from Iran at a number of US military bases in Iraq, including the al-Assad airbase, which hosts both Iraqi and US soldiers. US officials also confirmed that President Donald Trump was being briefed on the situation.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps confirmed that it had carried out the missile attack against US forces as part of an operation named "Martyr Soleimani," and said in a statement that it was the first step of their retaliation for the killing of the Quds Force commander on Friday.
According to early media reports, one Iraqi officer was killed in the attack and five soldiers wounded. Israel's Kan new said that the attack was not carried out in an area heavily populated by American troops.
The IRGC statement claimed that dozens of missiles had been fired at al-Assad airbase. Soleimani was buried after the attack on Tuesday night.
Iranian media reported that a second wave of missiles was being fired at US targets in Iraq, soon after the initial attack.
"Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense," tweeted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after the attacks. "We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression."
An Iraqi security source told CNN that there were Iraqi casualties in the attack on the Ain al-Assad air base. According to a Lebanese news report, a plane was destroyed on the runway at the base. The US is not aware of an casualties as of yet, but is still assessing the situation, according to a US official.
"We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. "The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team."
Security was increased around the White House, as the IRGC threatened to conduct attacks within the United States. Intense jet activity was reported over Baghdad.
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