As we all know that Soleimani was then killed in a targeted U.S. drone strike was held on 3 January 2020 in Baghdad, Iraq, increasing the tension between the US and Iran and also speculated about the outbreak of World War Three on social networking sites.
In order to retaliate the killing of Soleimani, Iran has launched missile strikes against two Iraqi military bases housing United States forces.
Iran’s revenge started early Wednesday when they attacked the country with ballistic missiles at two U.S. military bases in northern Iraq.
The attack on Wednesday was launched in order to take revenge against the killing by the United States of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was the top Iranian military leader. As per the Department of Defense and several media reports, ballistic missiles were used in the attack.
Also, Iranian state TV stated that it was in revenge for the U.S. assassination of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, whose death a previous week in an American drone strike neighboring Baghdad provoked angry calls to retaliate his assassination.
About the attack, the attack was held in Ain al-Assad airbase, which is located in Iraq’s western Anbar province as well as a base in Irbil in Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region was attacked, the Pentagon confirmed.
Pentagon report also states that the bases were attacked with ballistic missiles. As per the Associated Press, the attack included a series of surface to surface missiles.
President Trump Reaction On Attack
On the launched attacks by Iran, President Trump in his first tweet that was assured the public that “All is well!”
“All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq,” Mr. Trump wrote. “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.”
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.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2020
In addition to that Senator Lindsey Graham, who is a staunch supporter of the president and an outspoken hardliner on Iran, said the ballistic missile strike by Iran “an act of war” along with that also stated that Mr. Trump has “all the authority he needs under Article II to respond.” Graham spoke with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity on Tuesday evening.
“This was an act of war, Sean, by any reasonable definition,” Graham told Hannity. “The missiles were launched from Iran. The president has all the authority he needs under Article II to respond. How he responds is yet to be determined.”
What are ballistic missiles?
Well, a ballistic missile has a ballistic trajectory, in simple words, it means that the missile is powered and guided in the direction of a target, but as its fuel is spent, the missile’s warhead gets separated and it then falls under gravity onto its target.
In addition to that, Ballistic missiles are made up of mainly three parts and those are a propulsion system, a guidance system as well as the payload, which main aim is to destroy the target.
Ballistic missiles are more challenging to intercept as compared to the cruise missiles for the reason that they can be launched rapidly as well as travel at high speeds.
The payload in a ballistic missile can consist of conventional explosives, biological, chemical or else the nuclear warheads. On the other hand, they are propelled by solid or liquid fuels.
Source: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance; The Associated Press
