Iran retaliates, hits US bases in Iraq: 80 dead

Iran has launched ballistic missiles at two US military bases in Iraq, killing 80 American soldiers in the early hours of Wednesday morning local time, Iranian sources reported.
More than a dozen ballistic missiles struck the al-Asad airbase and another base in Erbil.
The attacks were Iran’s retaliation to the U.S. killing last week of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Iran has called that attack an act of war and state terrorism and vowed a harsh response.
Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister, tweeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, saying: "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. We did not seek escalation or war."
U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the attack on Twitter.
"All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good!" he said and added: "We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning."
Flights have been diverted from Iranian and Iraqi airspace.
On 3 January 2020, amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, the U.S. launched a terrorist attack on a convoy traveling near Baghdad International Airport, killing ten passengers, including Iranian major general and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Quds Forces commander Qasem Soleimani, Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces commander Abu Mahdi al- Muhandis, four senior Iranian officers and four Iraqi officers. (ILKHA)
LEGAL WARNING: All rights of the published news, photos and videos are reserved by İlke Haber Ajansı Basın Yayın San. Trade A.Ş. Under no circumstances can all or part of the news, photos and videos be used without a written contract or subscription.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that Bosnia and Herzegovina has made “remarkable progress” on its journey toward European Union (EU) membership and now “stands at the doorstep of the European family.”
Despite a fragile ceasefire holding across the Gaza Strip, the Israeli government has decided to keep the Rafah crossing closed and restrict the entry of life-saving humanitarian aid — citing the alleged failure of the Palestinian Resistance to return the bodies of all Israeli prisoners killed during the war.
Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will travel to Moscow on Wednesday for high-level talks with Russian officials, in a visit that could reshape the future of Syria–Russia relations and define Moscow’s enduring military role in the war-torn country.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that nearly 310,000 people have moved from southern to northern Gaza since last Friday, attempting to return to homes devastated by Israeli military operations.