Iran, which has multiplied threats of retaliation against the United States since the targeted assassination on Friday of General Qassem Soleimani, took action on Wednesday.
A dozen ballistic missiles from Iranian territory were fired at Iraqi bases located in Ain al-Assad and Erbil, which housed a significant number of American soldiers.
The strikes, which took place in the middle of the night in Iraq, were launched the same day as the funeral of the Iranian strongman and quickly confirmed by the Pentagon.
The US Department of Defense said, without giving an assessment, that measures had been taken in recent days to prevent possible attacks and ensure the safety of personnel in place in the country.
No official indication on the number of American victims was given at the end of the evening. Some unconfirmed reports cited only Iraqi victims and wounded.
The Revolutionary Guards, the paramilitary organization of the Islamic Republic, claimed that the military operation had been launched in the name of “martyr” Qassem Soleimani and had been successful.
The regime has released photos showing that the operation was observed live by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme guide.
The White House spokesperson said shortly after the offensive that US President Donald Trump was closely monitoring the situation with his national security team.
The American media speculated for a moment on the possibility that he was addressing the nation on television, but the scenario did not materialize.
The head of state finally broke the silence at around 10 p.m. on Twitter to say that the assessment of the number of victims and of material damage was continuing and that “everything was fine so far”.
The explosives used on Tuesday could be 100 times more powerful than the rockets previously used. What leave an important crater.
Another variable to consider was the accuracy of the missiles used. Iran’s weaponry has become more sophisticated in recent years. Last September, a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia had acted as a signal for the United States: the majority of missiles and drones had reached their target, the Washington Post noted, causing some surprise.
The accuracy of the missiles sent on Tuesday remained to be seen at the time of writing. “How reliable the Iranian system is is hard to say,” said Hinz.
In the past few years, Iran has used the same type of missile in Iraq, against the Kurdish opposition, and in Syria, against the Islamic State armed group. Some had reached their target, others had not. They also demonstrated their weapons during exercises, leaving the international community with no doubts about their strike power.
Iran is said to have missiles with a range of over 1,700 km, capable of reaching Israel without passing through an Allied group on another territory.
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