Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles at US Bases in Iraq in Soleimani Retaliation

Iran launches more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi air bases hosting US troops, the largest Iranian ballistic missile attack ever against American forces, injuring over 100 soldiers.

On January 8, 2020, Iran's IRGC launched over a dozen Qaim-1 ballistic missiles at Al-Asad Air Base and the Erbil base in Iraq, both of which host US military personnel. Iran said the strikes were retaliation for the assassination of Soleimani and warned of further consequences if the US responded. No Americans were killed in the immediate attacks, but the Pentagon later confirmed that 110 US service members suffered traumatic brain injuries from the blast concussions — injuries Trump initially dismissed as "headaches." The attack marked the largest ballistic missile strike by Iran ever against American forces and showed Iran's growing precision missile capabilities. Tehran declared the operation its formal "response" and indicated it would not escalate further, avoiding a broader war.