US, Norway, Denmark say No casualties
Putin, Merkel to meet in Moscow over escalations in the mideast
Japan urges diplomacy to end US-Iran conflict
According to the Press TV, Eight People were killed in Iran's missile strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq but quickly tweeted it can not independently verify the claims on the numbers of calsulties.
@PressTV Reports: 80 killed in #Iran missile attacks on U.S. bases in #Iraq
NOTICE: Press TV cannot independently verify the reports on the number of casualties.
But Iranian state television said that at least 80 "American terrorists" were killed in attacks involving 15 missiles Tehran launched on US targets in Iraq, adding that none of the missiles were intercepted.
State TV, citing a senior Revolutionary Guards source, also said Iran had 100 other targets in the region in its sights if Washington took any retaliatory measures.
It also said US helicopters and military equipment were "severely damaged".
The U.S. President, Mr Donald Trump in his assessment said so far so good, there are no casualty in the US bases targeted by the Iran missiles.
NATO allies Norway and Denmark who also have troops stationed in Iraq have said none of its troops injured or killed
No Norwegian troops were injured or killed in the attack on the Al-Asad air base in Iraq, a Norwegian military spokesman told Reuters news agency.
The country has about 70 soldiers at the base, said Brynjar Stordal at Norway's military headquarters.
The Danish armed forces said in a Twitter post none of its soldiers were wounded or killed in the missile strike on the Al-Asad airbase.
Denmark has about 130 soldiers at the base as part of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) armed group.
Javad Zarif @JZarif said: "We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.Iran fires missiles at Iraqi bases used by the US military as the first act of revenge promised by Tehran for the US killing of a top general."
More than a dozen ballistic missiles were launched by Iran at Ayn al-Assad base and US forces stationed in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
This is a major roll of the dice for Tehran, which hopes the US will not respond - or at least not with a massive retaliation as IRGC threatened that any response from US will be met with proportionate response from Iran.
MSNBC was said to have reported that these missile attacks *may* not have done serious damage, and that Iran is domestically saying they did in order to placate its people and find a way to end this crisis without more death.
MSNBC was said to have reported that these missile attacks *may* not have done serious damage, and that Iran is domestically saying they did in order to placate its people and find a way to end this crisis without more death.
The question: will Trump accept this?
Iranians, during the Soleimani Burial ceremonies demanded for revenge against the american troops in the region.
Iranian leaders knows that most Americans do not want war. The regime also knows it is not secure and could be targeted.
Iran used ballistic missiles, its weapon of choice, perfected over years of tests, the same missiles used in Yemen and against ISIS and Kurdish dissidents were launched against the US basses in Iraq on Wednesday.
American leaders have been saying it severally that they do not want war and neither do they want Regime change in Iran. Both may be a very disastrous assignments for the US and it allies including NATO as A people can not be easily defeated.
But Iran must also be careful not to anger and alienate Iraqis despite having overwhelming support of the Iranian backed Hezbollah controlled Iraqi parliament and populace as the attack on Erbil could stoke tensions in the Kurdistan region. Initial reports indicate the rockets that fell in Erbil did not do much or any damage. The major attack was at Ayn al-Assad base.
But Iran must also be careful not to anger and alienate Iraqis despite having overwhelming support of the Iranian backed Hezbollah controlled Iraqi parliament and populace as the attack on Erbil could stoke tensions in the Kurdistan region. Initial reports indicate the rockets that fell in Erbil did not do much or any damage. The major attack was at Ayn al-Assad base.
Russia and China have both separately condemned the US assassination of the Iranian Top General killed in Baghdad as a stabilisation act in the middle east.
President Vladimir Putin who is currently in the middle East and was in Damascus yesterday, expected to be in Turkey Wednesday where he and Turkish president Erdogan will lay a foundation for Russia-Turkish pipelines.
He will also visit Israel.
He will also visit Israel.
Putin and German Vice Chancellor Angela Merkel are billed to meet on January 11th where the Middle East tensions and escalations will also be tabled.
Japan has urged “all parties concerned to exhaust diplomatic efforts to ease tensions,” following Iran’s attack on military bases in Iraq housing US troops. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government is "deeply concerned over escalating tensions" in the Middle East, adding that "further escalation must be avoided."
He confirmed that the country's National Security Council met Wednesday to discuss the situation, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the ministers of defense and foreign affairs. Suga added that the government is currently deciding whether a planned trip by Abe to the Middle East will go ahead, but a plan to send a Self-Defense Forces ship and two aircraft to the region will remain on course for the time being.
That mission is aimed at gathering information to ensure the safe passage of Japanese commercial shipping through the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden and the northern Arabian Sea. as a Japanese oil tanker was attacked in June this year in the Gulf of Oman.
Japan has urged “all parties concerned to exhaust diplomatic efforts to ease tensions,” following Iran’s attack on military bases in Iraq housing US troops. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government is "deeply concerned over escalating tensions" in the Middle East, adding that "further escalation must be avoided."
He confirmed that the country's National Security Council met Wednesday to discuss the situation, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the ministers of defense and foreign affairs. Suga added that the government is currently deciding whether a planned trip by Abe to the Middle East will go ahead, but a plan to send a Self-Defense Forces ship and two aircraft to the region will remain on course for the time being.
That mission is aimed at gathering information to ensure the safe passage of Japanese commercial shipping through the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden and the northern Arabian Sea. as a Japanese oil tanker was attacked in June this year in the Gulf of Oman.
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