Iran strikes US military bases in Iraq, 80 killed

Iran has launched ballistic missiles targeting the US presence in Iraq, including Ain Assad airbase. US President Donald Trump has said he will deliver a speech later on Wednesday. Follow DW for the latest updates.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched over a dozen ballistic missiles at two US targets in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani.Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Tehran "concluded proportionate measures in self-defense" after the second wave of missiles. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the missile attack as a "slap in the face" to the US.US President Donald Trump said he will deliver a speech on Wednesday after an assessment of damages and casualties.

As many as 80 US servicemen killed when Iran launched attacks on more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq, local media said on Wednesday.

"At least 80 American soldiers were killed during the missile airstrike launched by the Revolutionary Guards on the Ain Al Asad base," a senior Revolutionary Guards source said as quoted by the Iranian television.

It also said US helicopters and military equipment were "severely damaged."Earlier in the day, Iranian Armed Forces Staff Chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri said in a statement that Iran had shown only a "part" of its military capabilities and added that the time had come for Washington "to take another approach in dealing with Tehran."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.

"Iraq was subjected between 1:45 and 2:45 this morning of January 8 2020 to bombardment by 22 missiles; 17 missiles fell on Ain Assad air base including two that did not explode ... and five on the city of Irbil that all fell on coalition headquarters. No casualties among Iraqi forces were recorded," said an Iraqi statement.