News Reported Ballistic Missile Attack Near U.S. Base in Erbil, Iraq

[Isa Khan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502778164686241792

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502783085980622858

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502781581597020160

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502782786096218122

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502790107836952578

Footage posted to social media reportedly shows the impact of at least five projectiles in Erbil, Iraq near a U.S. military base and consulate. Unconfirmed reports indicate the attacks involved Fateh-110 ballistic missiles launched from Iran, not smaller rockets or artillery shells used in numerous previous attacks against U.S. installations in Iraq. Even if artillery rockets were used, they would have had to of been quite large.

There are no immediate reports of casualties or U.S. retaliation for the reported attacks. If confirmed, the attack would be the first of its kind since a coordinated missile strike against U.S. forces in Iraq in January 2020. Those attacks came after a U.S. drone strike killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander, on Baghdad’s Airport Road.

Sunday’s reported attacks come three days after two Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps members were reportedly killed in Syria in an Israeli airstrike. While smaller rocket and mortar strikes by Iran-backed proxies in Iraq and Syria, as well as suicide drone attacks, have become more common since the 2020 missile attack, ballistic missiles have not been used since.

Their reported launch from Iranian territory outside Tabriz would further represent a dramatic escalation, one that would likely warrant U.S. retaliation. The U.S. did not retaliate after the January 2020 missile attack and while dozens of soldiers were reportedly injured, no one was killed.

The attack also comes as the U.S., Iran, and other nations, continue talks in Vienna regarding the Iranian nuclear program in search of a new deal after the U.S. withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018.

We must stress that these reported details could change significantly as this story is still rapidly evolving. We will report back as soon as more information comes available.

We should be getting an official statement out of the US soon.

The targeting is what is key here. If Iran targeted something under construction or an area where nobody should be, the messaging is focused on displaying/reminding/signaling the capability and the will to use it. Russia is also close to Iran. This is a very convenient distraction, although that is just conjecture. If this target area was a place where people usually are, along with other operational capabilities, the intent changes. Regardless it is a major escalation, but maybe not one worth meeting at this time considering everything else going on in the world.

Ballistic Missiles Strike Near U.S. Base in Erbil, Iraq (Updated)

The missiles were likely launched from Iranian territory.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Isa Khan]

UPDATE: 7:45 PST—

Iraq says it is launching an investigation into the "bombing incident." Very strange language for this type of event:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502805162968158209

UPDATE: 7:55 PM EST—

Just in from a State Department spokesperson:

There is no damage or casualties at any U.S. Government facility.
The incident is being investigated by the government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government and we refer you to them for comment.
We condemn this outrageous attack and display of violence.

This statement is very vague and lacking in detail considering the nature of the attack. It seems clear the U.S. is looking to downplay this attack.

UPDATE: 8:20 EST—

Latest news from Reuters. Possibly 12 missiles laucnhed.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502811188941443075

 

[Era_shield]

Might be retaliation for US sending weapons to Ukraine:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1502812038837514242

 

[McCool]

0 Americans killed, the missile hit some empty field. And Qasem is still DEAD lmao

 

[Anmdt]

They haven't inflicted any measurable damage, neither casualties nor equipment.

And Iran still has no guts to admit this attack officially but taking a cover behind the 'militias'

That what was the entire attack about if they can not even admit it officially and state an official warning/note, if the attack was already not meant for inflicting any damage but delivering a message?

We all know the answer.

 

[TR_123456]

So,an attack on a field near a base?
Are they going to claim to have attacked the base?
Can an Iranian member shed some light on this?

 

[Blackbeardsgoldfish]

Ballistic missiles hit Iraq's Kurdish capital, Iran's Revolutionary Guard claim responsibility​

By Amina Ismail

• 12 missiles hit Erbil, targets include U.S. consulate
• Missiles caused only material damage, one civilian injured
• Iraqi security official says missiles made in Iran
• Iran's Revolutionary Guards take responsibility for attack

ERBIL, Iraq, March 13 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for a dozen ballistic missiles that struck Iraq's northern Kurdish regional capital of Erbil in the early hours of Sunday, Iran's state media reported, adding that the attack was against Israeli "strategic centres" in Erbil.

The missile attack comes as talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal face the prospect of collapse after a last-minute Russian demand forced world powers to pause negotiations for an undetermined time despite having a largely completed text.

The missiles, which targeted the U.S. consulate's new building, caused only material damage and one civilian was injured, the Kurdish interior ministry said. An Iraqi security official told Reuters that the missiles were manufactured in Iran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards released a statement taking responsibility for the missile attack against Israeli "strategic centres" in Erbil, Iran's state media reported.

"Any repetition of attacks by Israel will be met with a harsh, decisive and destructive response," the Revolutionary Guard said in the statement.

A U.S. official blamed Iran for the attack earlier on Sunday but did not give further details.

A Kurdish spokesperson for the regional authorities said that Sunday's attack only targeted civilian residential areas, not a foreign base and called on the international community to carry out an investigation.

Separately, a U.S. State Department spokesperson called it an "outrageous attack" but said no Americans were hurt and there was no damage to U.S. government facilities in Erbil.

U.S. forces stationed at Erbil's international airport complex have in the past come under fire from rocket and drone attacks that Washington blames on Iran-aligned militia groups, but no such attacks have occurred for several months.

Asked about Sunday's attack, Israel's military said it did not comment on reports in the foreign press and the prime minister's office declined to comment.

In another sign of increased regional tensions, Iran also suspended on Sunday a fifth round of talks with regional rival Saudi Arabia that were due to take place in Baghdad on Wednesday.

The last time ballistic missiles were directed at U.S. forces was in January 2020 - an Iranian retaliation for the U.S. killing earlier that month of its military commander Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad airport.

No U.S. personnel were killed in the 2020 attack but many suffered head injuries.

Iraq and neighbouring Syria are regularly the scene of violence between the United States and Iran. Iran-backed Shi'ite Islamist militias have attacked U.S. forces in both countries and Washington has on occasion retaliated with air strikes.

An Israeli air strike in Syria on Monday killed two members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Iranian state media said last week. The IRGC vowed to retaliate, it said. Israel has not confirmed it carried out the strike.

A Kurdish spokesperson for the regional authorities said there were no flight interruptions at Erbil airport.

Residents of Erbil posted videos online showing several large explosions, and some said the blasts shook their homes. Reuters could not independently verify those videos.

Iraq has been rocked by chronic instability since the defeat of the Sunni Islamist group Islamic State in 2017 by a loose coalition of Iraqi, U.S.-led and Iran-backed forces.

Since then, Iran-aligned militias have regularly attacked U.S. military and diplomatic sites in Iraq, U.S. and many Iraqi officials say. Iran denies involvement in those attacks.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middl...l-erbil-northern-iraq-state-media-2022-03-12/