Iran launches a series of missile attacks on US facilities in Iraq Wednesday Jan 08,2020

Iran has launched a series of missile attacks on US facilities in Iraq, days after the United States assassinated top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani

Iranian state television said in the early hours of Wednesday Jan 08,2020 that the Revolutionary Guards Corps had attacked Ain al-Asad military base, where US troops are stationed. A second facility near Erbil airport was also hit.   

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran had taken and concluded "proportionate measures in self-defence" under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

"We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression," he said on Twitter.

Ain al-Asad was the second largest American airbase in Iraq established during the US occupation of the country between 2003 and 2011.

The airbase hosted President Trump during the Christmas holidays in 2018. The visit was Trump’s first journey to a conflict zone since taking office in January 2017.