According to the Pentagon, in January 2020 more than a dozen ballistic missiles fired from Iran hit two Iraqi military bases that housed U.S. troops, along with coalition personnel. The missiles were clearly launched from Iran; the Middle Eastern nation’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, characterized the attack as a “slap on the face” against America, but noted that military action was “not enough.”
It appears the surface-to-surface missiles were launched in retaliation after the United States killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was killed on January 3rd at the Baghdad International airport in a U.S. drone strike. Khamenei called Soleimani a “great, brave, warrior,” noting the time had come for the U.S. presence that brought destruction and war to the area to end. Iran’s Telecommunication Minister went a step further by tweeting “Get the hell out of our region.”
At the time of the attack, the Pentagon press secretary, Alyssa Farah, tweeted that the Al-Asad and Erbil bases were specifically targeted. Following the missile attack, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a warning to the United States not to retaliate, stating that “The fierce revenge by the Revolutionary Guards has begun.”
The attack against the United States resulted in Iranian people taking to the streets to celebrate the missile launch—and U.S. troops being killed and grievously wounded. Despite the warning from Iran, the Pentagon said it would take all necessary measures to protect our American troops and allies. According to Scott Morrison, diplomatic staff and Australian troops stationed in Iraq were safe following the attack.