Multiple reports of rocket attacks against Ain Al Assad airbase in Iraq which has a large presence of US soldiers stationed there.
This is a developing story. Return to this post for updates.
UPDATE 1
Kata’ib Hezbollah and Pro-IRGC channels are stating “Revenge has begun.”
UPDATE 2
UPDATE 3More rockets incoming at Al-Asad beyond the first six, a defense official tells me. https://t.co/zwtewJA0n0— Jack Detsch (@JackDetsch_ALM) January 7, 2020
(Via Wikipedia)
It was the second largest US military airbase in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On 26 December 2018, President Donald Trump and his wife Melania visited the soldiers stationed at the base. On 23 November 2019, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, visited the troops ahead of Thanksgiving.
The base is located in the HÄ«t District of the largely Sunni Al Anbar Governorate, about 100 miles (160 km) west of Baghdad and 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the village of Khan al Baghdadi.
UPDATE 4
Reuters report says source inside base is claiming there has been no attack.
REPEAT: Reuters report says source inside base is claiming there has been no attack.
UPDATE 5
UPDATE 6#Breaking— Farhad Rezaei (@Farhadrezaeii) January 7, 2020
My source in Erbil just confirmed that US Consulate in Erbil is hit by the IRGC missiles! https://t.co/4K2BEvHRpE
People in my hometown (close to Iraqi borders) heard missile blasts.— Farhad Rezaei (@Farhadrezaeii) January 7, 2020
Probably the missiles hit the US consulate in Erbil! https://t.co/rP8Q8xOrQw
UPDATE 7
UPDATE 8BREAKING: U.S. forces in Iraq are under "missile attack from Iran," senior U.S. military source says, according to Fox News— BNO News (@BNONews) January 7, 2020
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) January 7, 2020UPDATE 9
UPDATE 10From senior US military source in Iraq:— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) January 7, 2020
“Under missile attack from Iran. These are either cruise missiles or short range ballistic missiles. All over the country.”
UPDATE 11🚨 BREAKING 🇮🇷 Iranian Revolutionary Guard officially announces the targeting of the 🇺🇸 US al-Asad base with dozens of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles in Iraq 🇮🇶 pic.twitter.com/aeiIRx4G7c— INTELSky (@Intel_Sky) January 7, 2020
CNN confirms attacks on Ain Al Assad Airbase.
UPDATE 12
Multiple reports: At least three US military installations in Iraq have been atatcked.
UPDATE 13
UPDATE 14NEWS: I’m told @SpeakerPelosi was handed a note inside a House Democratic Caucus meeting just now about the missile attacks that Iran is now claiming responsibility for. She then left the room.— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) January 7, 2020
From White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham:
"We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team."
UPDATE 15
Holy Coprolite!
Reports that US jets have taken off from the UAE.
UPDATE 16
UPDATE 17BREAKING: US Jets seen taking off from UAE. Iranian news media reporting Iran will also target UAE if US jets strike Iran that originated from UAE.— Israel Breaking (@IsraelBreaking) January 7, 2020
US official confirms Iran has also fired ballistic missiles at a US military installation in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, which provides facilities and services to hundreds (possibly thousands) of coalition personnel and CIA operatives.
UPDATE 18
UPDATE 19#BREAKING: #US planes taking off from #Incirlik. I’m expecting a pretty quick response here. - Jon #Iran #Iraq #QassamSoleimani #MiddleEast #Baghdad #Assad— World Events Live 🚨 (@IdeologyWars) January 7, 2020
UPDATE 20American fighters over southern Turkey now— Woofers (@NotWoofers) January 7, 2020
#BREAKING: Over six F-35As of #USAF have left Al-Dhafra Air Base in #UAE and might carry-out retaliatory airstrikes at #IRGCNavy targets around #PersianGulf & #HormuzStrait in response to Operation #Soleimani of #IRGC. In response, #IRGC might target #UAE using ballistic missiles pic.twitter.com/YsmAwEkgzb— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) January 8, 2020
UPDATE 21
Israel on High Alert.
UPDATE 22
REPORT: ALL US military facilities in Iraq have been struck.
CASUALTIES REPORTED
UPDATE 23
Tasnim News Agency: Second wave of attack starting on US bases has started.
UPDATE 24
CNN’s Barbara Starr reports that Pentagon officials have been hard to reach “because they were sent home early for what was supposed to be a major snowstorm.”
UPDATE 25
Iranian Air Force has been deployed.
UPDATE 26
Breaking: Iraqi PMF (Popular Mobilization Front) announces the start of military operation "overwhelming response"
UPDATE 27
From CNN:
Security level has been raised around the White House, some Secret Service agents seen with assault rifles.
UPDATE 28
US Air Force jets have apparently been deployed to control all Iraqi airspace and not for imminent attack.
UPDATE 29
Trump's first public announcement:
Sound like he may de-escalate.All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. 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.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2020
This is mostly being fought on Iraqi territory? Gosh, how is the "Operation Iraqi Freedom" moniker ever going to stick? The Iraqis better damn well appreciate what it means to have the democracy and freedom that the US government brought them. Hey, you gotta break a few eggs...
ReplyDeleteSounds like the Blowback has really begun.
ReplyDeleteWe will savage and humiliate them, at least in these opening salvos. And the neocons will accept that as proof of vindication, and as the issue being "settled"---just like how so many people think that the issue of secession during our Civil War was "settled" when the North beat the South. Might makes right. If a country succumbs to Trial by Fire, it means they were in the wrong.
ReplyDeleteReading the comments on one of my local news sites is an effort in futility. Lots of talking about how 'evil' the Iranians are, but almost nobody who can rationally discuss why we are even over there, or how the Iranians have a legitimate gripe with us and our constant meddling (since at least 1953).
ReplyDeleteIt IS crazy. I have neocon friends on FB, who you would think are in the employ of the MSM or the State Department...posting continually, demonizing Soleimani and Iran...a constant drumbeat of aping the official narrative, that Soleimani was the most evil, psychopathic terrorist ever (or since...Sadam Hussein? Sounds familiar)...and how Iran wants to conquer the entire Middle East. And of course, everything is black & white: If you don't "support the USA, then you must support Iran" (there is no nuance whatsoever).
DeleteYellow Journalism has allies everywhere on social media...
My question to these people is, what has Iran or Soleimani done to you? Why would you want to spend your money in military activities against them? Don't you have better ways to spend your precious time, money, and energy? These people must have very empty lives if this is a priority for them.
DeleteI hurt my head and watched Fox for the first time in years, and all they could talk about, even the so called libertarian “Kennedy”, when some guest mentioned the Iranians started this in 1979, Kennedy yelled “darn right!” She’s and idiot. All of them are idiots. Well, maybe just the fools that listen to them. Obviously the UK and US started all this in 1953, as michael said. Probably before then.
ReplyDeleteTrump, do something honest for once in your life and BACK OFF!