PRESS:
“We warn US allies providing bases for the [American] terrorist army… that any country serving as the origin of bellicose and aggressive attacks in any form against the Islamic Republic of Iran will be targeted,” read the IRGC statement.
The IRGC added that it would release more details about the strike.
The strike comes as no surprise since Iran had vowed to take a “harsh revenge” in the wake of the US terror attack.
Sirens were reportedly heard and American helicopters flew over the airbase and the total alert was activated.
US President Donald Trump was being briefed about the retaliatory strikes.
“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,” White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
“At approximately 5.30 pm (2230 GMT) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq,” Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.
“It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil.”
Following the strikes on Wednesday morning, oil prices rose over 4.5 percent at one point. The benchmark WTI jumped as much as 4.53 percent to $65.54 a barrel before settling down.
Global stock markets have also plunged as investors took fright at the escalating tensions. Tokyo opened sharply lower on Wednesday. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.57 percent or 370.40 points to 23,205.32 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 1.35 percent or 23.32 points at 1,701.73.
Wall Street stocks lost more ground, with The Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.4 percent to close the session at 28,583.68. The broad-based S&P 500 shed 0.3 percent to finish at 3,237.18 but the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dipped only a fraction to 9,068.58.
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— ????????Ја се дижем из пепела попут Феникса???????? (@ValiantPhoenixx) January 8, 2020
It's happening, folks, it's happening!!!! The stage is being set for Jesus' triumphant return. The games have begun and there is NOTHING stopping his return now. Glory glory hallelujah!!!! I'm about to blow the shofar from the rooftop!!! ????????????#WW3 pic.twitter.com/dPsZRkqTjE
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) anti-terror group, better known as Hashd al-Sha’abi forces, announced the start of Crushing Response Operation to the United States.
The White House was preparing for an address to the US nation by the American commander in chief, but it was announced later that the speech has been called off.
The story is being updated…