IRGC targets US airbase in western Iraq, warns Washington against any further provocation

TEHRAN, (ST)- The air forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have announced that they have targeted the US airbase of Ain al-Asad in Anbar province in western Iraq with tens of  surface to surface ballistic missiles in retaliation to the US assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander, Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Iranian media reported Wednesday.

 US officials confirmed the attack.

 Iranian media outlets said that a new wave of missiles targeted the US base and that all the missiles hit their targets precisely, giving no details about the number of injured persons.

Leader of the Islamic revolution of Iran Ali Khamenei was personally in the control center to follow up the strikes on American bases in Iraq, the Iranian media added.

Following the attack, the IRGC warned Washington against any more provocation.

“We warn the bloodthirsty and arrogant regime of the US, that any new wicked act or more moves and aggressions (against Iran) will bring about more painful and crushing responses,” the IRGC said in a statement on Wednesday, according to Tasnim News Agency.

“We are warning all US allies who have offered bases to t  he US terrorist army that any territory that in any way becomes the starting point of hostile and aggressive acts against the Islamic Republic of Iran will be targeted,” the statement added.

 “We in no way consider the Zionist regime (of Israel) to be separate from the criminal US regime in these crimes,” it said.

White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that US President Donald Trump has been briefed on the retaliatory strikes and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team.”

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.

Hamda Mustafa