Operation Martyr Soleimani

Coordinates: 36°11′28″N 44°00′33″E / 36.191188°N 44.009189°E / 36.191188; 44.009189
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Iranian missile attack on U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq
Part of the Persian Gulf crisis
Operational scopeMultiple-sites targeted military strike
Locations
Ayn al-Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq

33°48′N 42°26′E / 33.800°N 42.433°E / 33.800; 42.433
Erbil, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

36°11′28″N 44°00′33″E / 36.191188°N 44.009189°E / 36.191188; 44.009189
Planned byIran Iran
Commanded byMaj. Gen. Hossein Salami
TargetAl Asad Airbase
Erbil Airbase
Date8 January 2020 (UTC+03:00)
Executed byAerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps[1]
Outcome6 to 10 Fateh-110 missiles[2] hit Ayn al-Asad Airbase
1 Qiam 1 missile hits 20 miles from Erbil International Airport
1 Qiam 1 missile reaches Erbil International Airport and does not explode
3 Qiam 1 missiles fail in the air
CasualtiesNone
Operation Martyr Soleimani is located in Iraq
Ayn al-Asad Airbase
Ayn al-Asad Airbase
Erbil
Erbil
Location within Iraq

Template:Campaignbox 2019–20 Persian Gulf crisis

On 8 January 2020, in a military operation code named Operation Martyr Soleimani (Persian: عملیات شهید سلیمانی),[3] Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched 22 ballistic missiles at the Ayn al-Asad airbase in Al Anbar Governorate, Western Iraq, as well as another airbase in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, in response to the assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani by United States forces.[4][5][6] Iran had informed the Iraqi government before the attack,[7] and the information was passed to the US military.[8] No Iraqi or American casualties were reported. A previous retaliatory attack also took place on 4 January, when rockets and mortars struck the Balad Air Base and the Green Zone.[9][10] On the evening of 8 January 2020, Reuters reported that three Katyusha rockets were launched, hitting Baghdad's Green Zone.[11][12]

Background

Main article: 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike

In the lead up to the attacks, Iranian officials had stated that Iran would retaliate against U.S. forces for the killing of general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad on 3 January 2020.[13] Reportedly, following the Baghdad strike, U.S. spy agencies detected that Iran's ballistic missile regiments were at a heightened readiness but it was unclear at the time if they were defensive measures or an indication of a future attack on U.S. forces.[14] U.S. president Donald Trump warned Tehran that any retaliation would result in the U.S. targeting 52 significant Iranian sites, including cultural sites.[15]

On 3 December 2019, five rockets had landed on the Ayn al-Asad airbase and there were no injuries.[16] A "security source" inside Ayn al-Asad airbase and a "local official at a nearby town" said that the reports that the Ayn al-Asad airbase were under attack at that time were false.[17] These reports on Twitter temporarily caused a rally of U.S. and Brent crude oil futures.[17]

On 4 January 2020, two rockets hit the Balad Air Base located near Baghdad.[9][10] Two mortars also hit Baghdad's Green Zone.[10] The attacks resulted in no casualties or damage.[9]

According to Iraqi Prime Minister (PM) Adel Abdul Mahdi's spokesperson, on 8 January, shortly after midnight, the PM had received a message from Iran, indicating that the response to the killing of General Soleimani had "started or was about to start". Iran also informed the PM that only those locations where the U.S. troops are stationed would be targeted. Although the exact locations of the bases were not disclosed, U.S. officials confirm their troops had adequate warning to shelter from the attack.[7][18]

Attacks

According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), the country's state-run news outlet, Iran fired "tens of ground-to-ground missiles" at the base and claimed responsibility for the attacks.[3] ISNA stated that the code used to launch the missiles was "Oh Zahra".[19][3] The attacks unfolded in two waves, each about an hour apart.[20] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack and announced that it was carried out in response to the killing of Soleimani. The IRGC added that if the United States responded with a retaliatory strike, the IRGC would respond in kind. The IRGC further declared that their statement was intended as a warning and applied to all of the United States' partners who provided their bases to its military.[21]

Although the Pentagon disputes the number launched, it has confirmed that both the Ayn al-Asad and the Erbil airbases in Iraq were hit.[22][23] A U.S. military spokesman for United States Central Command stated a total of 15 missiles were fired. Ten hit the Ayn al-Asad airbase, one hit the Erbil base, and four missiles failed.[20] Other sources confirmed that two ballistic missiles targeted Erbil: one hit Erbil International Airport and did not explode, the other landed about 20 miles west of Erbil.[24]

According to the Iraqi military, 22 ballistic missiles were fired between 1:45 a.m. and 2:15 a.m., 17 toward Ayn al-Asad base and five at Erbil.[25][26] According to The Military Times, an American commando said the al-Asad air base was hit hard.[27]

Fars News Agency released video of what it claims is the attack on U.S. military forces in Iraq.[28][29]

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated Iran symbolically targeted the bases which launched the attacks,[30] while a spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the timing of the strikes came at roughly the same time that Soleimani died.[31]

Damage

Damage (encircled) to at least five structures at Ayn al-Asad airbase in a series of missile attacks by Iran

The U.S. military initially assessed that there were no U.S. casualties,[20] and President Trump later confirmed that.[32][33] Senior Iraqi officials said that there were neither American nor Iraqi casualties.[34] Among the coalition forces present on the two bases, Australia,[35] Canada,[36] Denmark,[37] Finland,[38] Lithuania,[38] Norway,[19] and Poland[39] confirmed that their personnel were unharmed. Iranian television claimed that there were 80 U.S. deaths as well as damage to U.S. helicopters and "military equipment".[40]

Satellite photos made by Planet Labs show extensive damage to the Al Asad Airbase. At least five structures were damaged in the attack which apparently was precise enough to hit individual buildings. David Schmerler, an analyst with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, which evaluated the photos, said that the attacks seem to have hit buildings that store aircraft, while buildings used for housing staff were not hit.[41] U.S. Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, said the damage was limited to "tentage, taxiways, the parking lot, damaged helicopter, things like that, nothing I would describe as major".[42] President Trump announced that the damage was minimal.[32][33]

OPEC's Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo on conference in Abu Dhabi announced Iraqi oil facilities secure.[43]

It is believed that Iran deliberately avoided casualties in their operation,[44][45][46] while still sending a strong message of resolve in the aftermath of Soleimani's killing by U.S. forces.[45][46] After inspection of the damage, Pentagon officials said they believed the missiles were designed to kill Americans, but failed because of defensive measures by the U.S. troops, as well as an early warning from security systems.[42]

Aftermath

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice to airmen prohibiting U.S. civil aviation operators from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.[4][47][48] Singapore Airlines diverted its air flights from Iran airspace following the attacks.[49]

Reactions

On 8 January 2020, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, said that military actions are not enough and that the "corruptive presence" of the United States in the Middle East must be ended.[50] Khameini also described the airstrikes as a "slap in the face" to the United States.[51]

After the attack, Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif stated on Twitter that "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."[4][52][53]

EU leaders have urged Trump, both in public and in private, to not give a military response to the attacks.[54] British Prime Minister Boris Johnson denounced Iran's missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq, urging Tehran to avoid further "reckless and dangerous" strikes.[55] Shortly after Trump's announcement regarding the 8 January attack, influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged his followers to not conduct any attacks against U.S. elements in Iraq.[56]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during the inauguration of the TurkStream gas pipeline with Russian President Putin, that "no one has the right to throw the whole region, especially Iraq, into a new ring of fire for the sake of their own interests." He also said that "the tension between our ally U.S.A. and our neighbor Iran has reached a point that we do not desire at all", while promoting Turkey's diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis.[57]

U.S. response

Donald Trump's speech on 8 January 2020

In his first public comments on the attack, U.S. President Trump stated on Twitter that "All is well!". He added that damage assessments were ongoing and that he would make a statement on the attack the following morning.[4][58] In his announcement, Trump downplayed the impact of the airstrikes and announced new sanctions on Iran.[32][33] He also stated that he was willing to "embrace peace".[32][33]

Both Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. Senate advised the Trump administration to deescalate its stance with Iran. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said, "I believe the President wants to avoid conflict or needless loss of life but he's rightly prepared to protect American lives and interests and I hope Iran's leaders do not miscalculate by questioning our collective will in launching further attacks."[59]

In a letter to the United Nations, the U.S. wrote that it is braced to take further necessary action in the Middle East to ensure safety of U.S. personnel, and it is also ready to 'engage in serious negotiations with Iran without preconditions' to avert war.[60]

Global reactions

  • Saudi Arabia's Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman stated that the Kingdom would stand with Iraq and do everything in its power to spare it from the "danger of war and conflict between external parties".[61]

See also

References

  1. ^ "بیانیه رسمی سپاه درباره حملات موشکی سنگین به پایگاه آمریکایی عین الاسد | نام عملیات: شهید سلیمانی". همشهری آنلاین. 7 January 2020.
  2. ^ @imaMedia_org (8 January 2020). "Exclusive: Images of #Iranian Zulfiqar #missiles in the night of "Operation Martyr #Soleimani" #Iranian missiles pulled down two #US bases in #Iraq. The missiles used in this operation were the #Zulfiqar and the upgraded model of #Qiam (Detachable Warhead)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b c "Iran launches missiles into US air bases in Iraq: US official". ABC News. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Washington (earlier), Maanvi Singh Joan E. Greve in; Doherty, Ben; Butler, Ben; Safi, Michael; Safi, Michael; Borger, Julian (8 January 2020). "Iran launches missiles at US forces in Iraq at al-Asad and Erbil—live updates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  5. ^ Eqbali, Aresu; Malsin, Jared; Leary, Alex (7 January 2020), "Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Forces in Iraq", Wall Street Journal, retrieved 7 January 2020
  6. ^ "Iran Fires Missiles at Two U.S. Bases in Iraq: Live Updates". The New York Times. 8 January 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Iraqi PM received word from Iran about missile attack". Reuters. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  8. ^ https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/us-iran-soleimani-tensions-intl-01-07-20/h_ab395b3814b4e5136d1abc8fa8468787
  9. ^ a b c Sisk, Richard (4 January 2020). "Rocket Attacks Hit Baghdad's Green Zone, Balad Air Base: Iraqi Military". Military.com.
  10. ^ a b c "Iraq's speaker calls Iranian attack 'violation of Iraqi sovereignty'". Republic World.
  11. ^ "Two rockets reportedly hit Baghdad's Green Zone". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Three Katyusha rockets fall inside Baghdad's Green Zone: police sources". Reuters. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  13. ^ U.S.–Iran tensions after Soleimani killing: All the latest updates Al Jazeera, 5 January 2020
  14. ^ "US spies detected Iranian ballistic missiles at a heightened state of readiness following the assassination of Qassem Soleimani". Business Insider. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  15. ^ Suleimani killing: Donald Trump defends threat to target cultural sites in Iran The Guardian, 6 January 2020
  16. ^ Rasheed, Ahmed; Hassan, Samar (3 December 2019). "Rockets hit base hosting U.S. forces in western Iraq". Reuters. Cairo. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Reports of attacks on U.S. military base in Iraq are false: two sources". Reuters. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
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  20. ^ a b c Miles, Frank (7 January 2020). "Iran launches 15 ballistic missiles into Iraq targeting US, coalition forces, officials say". Fox News. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  21. ^ "Iran 'Concludes' Attacks, Foreign Minister Says". The New York Times. 7 January 2020.
  22. ^ Borger, Julian; Wintour, Patrick (8 January 2020). "Iran crisis: missiles launched against US airbases in Iraq". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
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  24. ^ Alkhshali, Hamdi (7 January 2020). "Two ballistic missiles hit Erbil, sources say". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Iran missile strike: Two US-Iraq bases hit by 22 projectiles, officials say, as crisis escalates". independent.
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  27. ^ Shawn Snow; Howard Altman (8 January 2020). "No US casualties in Iran missile strike, preliminary reports say". MilitaryTimes.com.
  28. ^ Agency, Source: Fars News (8 January 2020). "Iran releases footage of missile attack on US airbases in Iraq—video". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  29. ^ "Iran launches missile attack against US forces inside Iraq in 'revenge' for Qassem Soleimani assassination". ABC News. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  32. ^ a b c d "Trump: New sanctions on Iran but U.S. "ready to embrace peace"". www.cbsnews.com.
  33. ^ a b c d "Live updates: Trump says Iranian strike caused no American or Iraqi deaths; new sanctions on Iran will be imposed". The Washington Post.
  34. ^ Rubin, Alissa J.; Fassihi, Farnaz; Schmitt, Eric; Yee, Vivian (7 January 2020). "Iran Fires on U.S. Forces at 2 Bases in Iraq, Calling It 'Fierce Revenge'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  35. ^ "No Australian troops, staff hurt in Iran missile attacks on US airbases in Iraq". SBS News. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  36. ^ Stephenson, Mercedes; Armstrong, James (8 January 2020). "Canadian military personnel in Iraq safe after base targeted in Iran missile strikes". Global News. Retrieved 9 January 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  38. ^ a b Chappell, Bill (8 January 2020). "What We Know: Iran's Missile Strike Against The U.S. In Iraq". NPR. Retrieved 9 January 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ Charlish, Alan. "No Polish troops in Iraq hurt in Iranian missile attacks: minister".
  40. ^ =Ahmed Aboulenein; Phil Stewart (8 January 2020). "'We slapped them on the face': Ayatollah tells Iranians". The Sydney Morning Herald. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  41. ^ Geoff Brumfiel; Welna, David (8 January 2020). "Satellite Photos Reveal Extent Of Damage From Iranian Strike On Air Base In Iraq". NPR.
  42. ^ a b Rambaran, Vandana (8 January 2020). "Iran's missiles intended to 'kill personnel' in Iraq, Pentagon says". Fox News. Retrieved 9 January 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  44. ^ Safi, Michael (8 January 2020). "Iran's assault on US bases in Iraq might satisfy both sides". The Guardian.
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  46. ^ a b Atwood, Kylie; Brown, Pamela; Collins, Kaitlan; Sciutto, Jim (8 January 2020). "Some administration officials believe Iran intentionally missed areas with Americans". CNN.
  47. ^ "US bans airlines from flying over Iraq and Iran after attacks on military". The Guardian. 8 January 2020.
  48. ^ FAA, The [@FAANews] (8 January 2020). "#FAA Statement: #NOTAMs issued outlining flight restrictions that prohibit U.S. civil aviation operators from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.pic.twitter.com/kJEbpPddp3" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 January 2020 – via Twitter.
  49. ^ "Singapore Air Diverts Flights From Iran Airspace After Attacks". Bloomberg. 8 January 2020.
  50. ^ "Iran attack: US troops targeted with ballistic missiles". bbc.
  51. ^ Turak, Natasha (8 January 2020). "Iran supreme leader says missile attack was a 'slap on the face' for US but it was 'not enough'". CNBC.
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  53. ^ Zarif, Javad [@JZarif] (8 January 2020). "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" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 January 2020 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  54. ^ Wintour, Patrick (8 January 2020). "EU leaders plead with Trump not to respond to Iranian attacks". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  56. ^ Rothwell, James; Sanchez, Raf; White, Josh (8 January 2020). "Top Iranian cleric urges supporters not to attack US as Donald Trump says regime has backed down—latest news". The Telegraph.
  57. ^ "Turkey says won't allow a fresh ring of fire in ME amid US-Iran tension". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  58. ^ Trump, Donald J. [@realDonaldTrump] (8 January 2020). "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! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 January 2020 – via Twitter.
  59. ^ "GOP senators call on Trump to deescalate tensions with Iran". The Hill. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  60. ^ "US: Stand ready to engage in serious negotiations with Iran". FXStreet. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  61. ^ "Saudi Arabia will do everything to spare Iraq the danger of war: vice minister". Non Perele. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
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