Iran crisis: Tehran launches missile attack on US-Iraqi Ain al-Asad air base

Republican Guard fires 'tens' of warheads, state TV reports say

Iran has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack at the Al-Asad air base in western Iraq which is used by US forces – a major escalation of an already tense and chaotic situation.

The Pentagon confirmed that “more than a dozen” ballistic missiles were fired at US targets just hours after crowds filled the streets for the funeral of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed in an American drone strike last week.

Donald Trump had previously threatened retaliation if Iran used force against America, but in its claim of responsibility Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) warned Washington against that course of action.

Iranian state television said Tehran had launched “tens” of surface-to-air missiles at the base. An IRGC statement carried on state programming further warned America’s regional allies that if any retaliatory strikes were launched from their territory, they could expect to be attacked as well.

In the days following the killing of Soleimani in Baghdad, Tehran and its proxy militias in Iraq had threatened revenge on American forces. Reports also said Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, had declared that any response should be carried out by Iran’s own military forces.

Soleimani, who co-ordinated Iran‘s connections in the region, was killed outside Baghdad airport in the early hours of Friday morning.

On Tuesday, a funeral was held for him in Iran. A crush killed dozens of mourners.

Iraq’s parliament voted to expel US troops from the country, where about 5,000 of them are based.

But the US has reinforced its positions, while its ally the UK has also placed its military on standby.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump warned Iran against any retaliation, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “If Iran does anything they shouldn’t be doing, they are going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.”

After reports of the attacks emerged, the White House said the president had been briefed on the situation.

“We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq,” said White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham. “The president has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team. “

Reports from Iranian state media quoted the IRGC, whose covert arm Soleimani had commanded, as claiming responsibility for the attack.

“This morning, courageous fighters of the IRGC’s Air Force launched a successful operation called Operation Martyr Soleimani,” it said in a statement.

Reports said the IRGC also warned other actors in the region not to respond in turn.

It added: “We warn all allied countries of the US that if attacks are launched from bases in their countries on Iran, they will be a target of military retaliation.”

Additional reporting by agencies