TEHRAN: Iranian state television on Wednesday said at least 80 US soldiers were killed in 15 missiles attacks launched on the US led forces in Iraq.
Iranian state television stated that “None of the missiles were intercepted. State TV, citing a senior Revolutionary Guards source, also said Iran had 100 other targets in the region in its sights if Washington took any retaliatory measures”.
It also claimed during the attacks US helicopters and military equipment were severely damaged. Iran launched missile attacks on US-led forces in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday in retaliation for the US drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.
READ MORE: Irani President warns Donald Trump over his threats
However, the Pentagon said, “Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq, the American forces were still working on initial battle damage assessments.”
The Pentagon said, “It’s clear that these missiles were fired from Iran, attacking at least two Iraqi military installations in Al-Assad and Irbil hosting U.S. forces and coalition troops.”
There were no initial reports of casualties, but after days of steadily increasing uncertainty and exchanges of war threats, the Pentagon said it was ready to tackle such threats.
READ ALSO: 35 mourners killed during stampede at Soleimani’s funeral
While on the other hand, Iranian foreign minister Jawad Zarif in a tweet said, “Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched. We do not seek escalation or war but will defend ourselves against any aggression.
ADVERTISEMENT
