Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles at Two Airbases in Iraq

Iranlaunched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq in the early hours ofWednesday in retaliation for the US drone strike on an Iranian commander whosekilling has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.

Tehran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles from Iranian territory against at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US-led coalition personnel at about 1.30 am local time, the US military said on Tuesday.

According to a statement on state TV, Iran's Islamic RevolutionaryGuards Corps confirmed that they fired the rockets to retaliate for last week'skilling of Qassem Soleimani.

The Pentagon did not provide reports of casualties in the attack.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Defence Secretary MarkEsper arrived at the White House following news of the attack. It was unclearwhat response, if any, the United States was planning.

Hours earlier on Tuesday, Esper said the United States shouldanticipate retaliation from Iran over Friday's killing in Iraq of Soleimani,commander of the elite Quds Force.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says "All is well!"after more than a dozen Iranian missiles were fired at two bases housing UStroops in Iraq.

Trump tweets that casualty and damage assessments are ongoing butadds, "So far, so good!"

Iran is not seeking escalation or war, Iranian Foreign Ministertweeted after Tehran hit US targets in Iraq on Wednesday, adding that Tehranwould defend itself against any aggression.

In a Tweet, Mohammad Javad Zarif said, "Iran took &concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Chartertargeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens &senior officials were launched. We do not seek escalation or war, but willdefend ourselves against any aggression."