AFP :
Iran fired a volley of missiles on Wednesday at Iraqi bases housing US and other foreign troops, the Islamic republic’s first act in its promised revenge for the US killing of a top Iranian general.
Launched for the first time by forces inside Iran instead of by proxy, the attack marked a new turn in the intensifying confrontation between Washington and Tehran and sent world oil prices soaring.
There was no immediate suggestion of any link to the missile strikes but a Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran early Wednesday with the loss of all 176 people on board.
The Pentagon said: “Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq.
“It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel.”
The missiles targeted the sprawling Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and a base in Arbil, both housing American and other foreign troops deployed as part of a US-led coalition fighting the remants of the Islamic State group.
Iran’s supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state, said it was a “slap in the face” for the United States but that revenge was yet to come.
The Pentagon said the facilities had been on “high alert” after days of steadily mounting tension.
The office of Iraq’s premier said it had received “an official verbal message” from Iran informing it that a missile attack on US forces was imminent.
The statement by Adel Abdel Mahdi’s spokesman said his office was simultaneously contacted by Washington as the missiles rained down.
“Iraq rejects any violation of its sovereignty and attacks on its territory,” the statement said, without specifically condemning the missile strikes.
Iraq’s military said it sustained no casualties in 22 missile strikes, most of them hitting Ain Al-Asad.
US President Donald Trump said initial casualty assessments indicated “all is well”.
The Iraqi military said it sustained no casualties in 22 missile strikes on bases housing US troops.
France too said it sustained no casualties.
But British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab voiced concern about “reports of casualties”.
