Ayatollah says revenge raid for assassination 'not enough'
Jan 8, 2020 18:29:14 GMT -5
Post by schwartzie on Jan 8, 2020 18:29:14 GMT -5
Ayatollah says damp squib revenge raid for Soleimani's assassination is 'not enough' after Iran ineffectually fires 22 ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq - but fails to kill anyone
Iran fired 22 ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing American troops early Wednesday local time
Strikes are not thought to have killed any US or Iraqi personnel, though extent of damage is being assessed
Ayatollah said US was given a 'slap' but strikes alone are 'not enough' and called for troops to be kicked out
But foreign minister said 'proportionate' attack had 'concluded' and that Iran wanted no further escalation
By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE and EMILY CRANE and LEAH SIMPSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 16:49 EST, 7 January 2020 | UPDATED: 11:49 EST, 8 January 2020
Iran has launched what it promised would be a 'crushing revenge' strike against the US over the death of General Soleimani - but succeeded only in damaging two airbases in neighboring Iraq.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired 22 ballistic missiles at the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and Erbil International airport in the north in the early hours of Wednesday, but failed to kill a single US or Iraqi solider.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking on Iranian TV shortly after the missiles were launched, described the strikes as 'a slap' and said they 'are not sufficient (for revenge)' while vowing further action to kick US troops out of the region.
But foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the attack was now 'concluded', praising Iran's 'proportionate' response and adding: 'We do not seek escalation or war.'
President Donald Trump is expected to make his own statement on the attacks at 11am Wednesday EST, but tweeted late Tuesday to say 'so far so good' and 'all is well 'as American forces assessed the damage.
Iranian television had tried to claim that 80 'American terrorists' were killed, but that figure was quickly rubbished by Iraqi and US officials.
Images showed several missiles had either failed to explode on impact or else missed their targets. The remains of one was found near the town of Duhok, some 70 miles from Erbil air base, which was the intended target.
Full story with pictures and video at link