#IranAttack: Iranian Tv Claims ’80 American Terrorists Killed’ As Us And Iraq Deny Any Casualties

All the sides involved in the January 8 escalation in Iraq provide conflicting reports on the results of the Iranian strike on US military facilities to avenge the United States’ assassination of its senior commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

Iran

Initial reports said that 10 missiles were launched. The total number was not provided.

Iranian state television said that at least 80 “American terrorists” were killed in Iranian strikes on the US-operated Ayn al-Assad airbase and the US military facility near the city of Erbil. It added that US aircraft and military equipment were “severely damaged”.

According to the report citing a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) source, Iran had 100 other targets in the region in its sights if Washington took any retaliatory measures.

In a separate statement the IRGC said that none of the launched missiles were intercepted. However, it did not provide the assessment of the impact of the strike.

Iraq

Iraq’s military said that 22 missiles were launched on the Ain al-Asad air base in  Anbar province and a base in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Erbil. 

“Iraq was subjected between 1:45 and 2:45 this morning of 8 January 2020 to bombardment by 22 missiles; 17 missiles fell on Ain al-Asad air base including two that did not explode … and five on the city of Erbil that all fell on coalition headquarters. No casualties among Iraqi forces were recorded,” the statement said.

According to the Iraqi military, 2 of the 17 missiles targeting Ain al-Asad did not go off. The missiles aimed on Erbil all targeted coalition headquarters.

The military said that there were no casualties among Iraqi forces.

United States

The United States said that at least a dozen missiles were launched. Further reprots claimed that 10 of them hit the US-operated Ayn al-Assad airbase, one struck the area near Erbil city (a US military facility is located there). 4 missiles allegedly failed.

The Pentagon said that there were no casualties among US personnel claiming that the only casualties were Iraqis.