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Iran attacks US bases in the Middle East
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
On June 23, the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out a massive missile attack on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Qatar, starting a retaliatory operation for previous nuclear attacks.
In the article
Iran hits US military bases. The region reacts with airspace closure
On 23 June, the Islamic Republic of Iran conducted a coordinated missile attack on US military bases in the Gulf region. After these attacks, Qatar decided to temporarily close its airspace. The authorities also took similar steps Kuwait, Bahrain and Egypt. The United States and the United Kingdom have called on their citizens in Qatar to remain in their homes until further notice.
The aim was, among others, the Al Udeid base in Qatar, where approximately 10,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed and the main command elements of military operations throughout the region are located. The attack was carried out as part of an operation codenamed "The Prophecy of Victory", which is Tehran's direct response to earlier American strikes on Iranian nuclear objects.
According to the Qatari authorities, most missiles were intercepted by air defense systems, and the base itself did not suffer significant damage. In parallel, reports of Iran's attack on U.S. facilities in Iraq have been reported, including for Ain al-Assad Base in the western part of the country. Although the U.S. website did not officially confirm the effective hit of these facilities, it reported on the earlier evacuation of part of the personnel and the raising of the level of preparedness. The whole operation was showy, but the escalation of tension in the region did not leave without affecting markets – oil prices initially increased to fall later after confirming that transport by the Ormuz Strait was not halted.
Iranian retaliation goes back to Iraq. Ain al-Assad Base for another fire
Parallel to the fire of the Qatari base Al Udeid, Iran's revenge was also targeted by Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq, one of the major US forces facilities in the country. As reported by an anonymous Iraqi official quoted by the AP agency, the missiles hit the area where both American soldiers and allied personnel are stationed. The scale of damage and possible losses remain undisclosed. Iran's actions include into a broader context of an operation called the "Prediction of Victory" aimed at demonstrating the deterrence and preparedness for escalation in the event of further US strikes.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a short statement published before the start of the fire, stated: "We have not started this war and are not pursuing it. But we will not leave the invasion of great Iran unanswered." A few hours earlier, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran General Abdolrahim Mousavi stated that the United States' actions had "released Tehran's hands" to take revenge. He also announced that Iran would take further steps for further provocations.
United States reaction
In response to a massive missile attack, The Pentagon confirmed that mid-range and short-range missiles were launched from Iran's territory towards the U.S. Al Udeid base in Qatar. They were all intercepted by air defense systems deployed in the region, which prevented damage to infrastructure military and prevented casualties among US Armed Forces personnel.
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Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz
