Iran fired ballistic missiles for the first time in two years at a US base in Iraq

[Boats]

Iran fired ballistic missiles for the first time in two years at a US base in Iraq
By: bne IntelliNews - January 21, 2024
Re: https://www.intellinews.com/iran-fir...n-iraq-308624/

Photo link: https://d39raawggeifpx.cloudfront.ne...n_al-Asad.jpeg
Iran fired ballistic missiles for the first time in two years at a US base in Iraq on January 20 as tensions in the region continue to rise / bne IntelliNews

Iran fired ballistic missiles at a US base in Iraq on January 20 for the first time in two years, causing minor injuries to US personnel, but marking a significant escalation in rising tensions in the region.

Several US military personnel suffered minor injuries and a member of Iraq's security forces was wounded in the attack on the US airbase in Iraq's Ain al-Asad, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The US military's Central Command said in a statement that the base was hit by multiple ballistic missiles and rockets fired by Iranian-backed militants from inside Iraq.

“At approximately 6:30 p.m. (Baghdad time) time Jan. 20, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched by Iranian-backed militants in Western Iraq targeting al-Assad Airbase. Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base's air defence systems while others impacted on the base,” CENTCOM said in a social media post.

“Damage assessments are ongoing. A number of US personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries. At least one Iraqi service member was wounded,” it added.

"Islamic Resistance in Iraq," a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that oppose US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict claimed responsibility for the attack, AFP reported, highlighting that the use of ballistic missiles marks an escalation in the attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria, who had previously been targeted with lower-tech rockets and drones.

As bne IntelliNews reported, the situation in the Middle East has rapidly decayed in the last week following a series of bombings and drone strikes in countries across the region that has escalated to missile and missile counter-strikes.

While experts say that the region is not on the verge of war yet, it moves closer to a conflagration with each exchange of rockets. Notably, Iran and Pakistan tried to dial back tensions on January 20, agreeing to restore diplomatic relations after both had fired missiles into each other’s territory only day before.

Earlier on January 20, Iranian media reported that five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in an alleged Israeli strike on Damascus. Tehran responded by vowing revenge.

This came after Iran targeted an alleged Israeli intelligence base in Iraqi Kurdistan on January 15.

Besides retaliatory strikes launched by Israel on the one hand and Resistance forces (Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen who support the Palestinians) on the other, Washington has on several occasions launched strikes of its own ever since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

According to the Pentagon, dozens of US personnel have been lightly wounded in retaliatory strikes against American bases in Iraq and Syria.

There are roughly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria.

Al-Asad air base came under another attack on January 8, 2020 by IRGC in retaliation for the killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Suleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad a few days earlier.
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Comment: I do believe this crap going on in Iran is coming back around
and to have ballistic missiles who supplied them with these?!

Also: Oil shipments from Saudi Arabia and Iraq to Europe delayed amid Red Sea tensions
Re: https://www.intellinews.com/oil-ship...9/?source=iran

Oil shipments from Saudi Arabia and Iraq to Europe, totalling nearly nine million barrels, are facing delays as tankers are forced to reroute due to escalating tensions in the Red Sea, Bloomberg reported, citing ship tracking data.

According to the report, seven vessels, which earlier this month loaded crude oil and oil products at the Saudi Arabian ports of Ras Tanura and Al Jubail, and the Iraqi port of Basra, have altered course, steering away from the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

Most of these ships changed their routes on or after January 12, following airstrikes by US and UK forces on positions held by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which controls northern and central parts of Yemen.

The diverted ships are now circumnavigating the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, avoiding the Red Sea.

This change is expected to extend the voyage by more than two weeks.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) previously warned that rerouting oil transit around the Cape of Good Hope, aside from delaying deliveries, increases the risk of bottlenecks, higher freight costs, and renewed inflation growth.

The Houthi movement, "Ansar Allah," which controls much of Yemen's Red Sea coast, had earlier threatened to attack any Israel-linked ships, urging other countries to recall their crews and avoid approaching them at sea.

Several shipping companies have decided to suspend Red Sea transits in response.

The Houthis have claimed that their actions in the Red Sea are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, asserting they do not hinder maritime freedom in the region.

Arab and Muslim countries have repeatedly warned the US that unconditional support for Israel's actions in Gaza could escalate the conflict throughout the region.

Since mid-January, the US and UK have been striking Houthi targets, describing these as a response to threats to maritime freedom in the Red Sea.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the "Ansar Allah" political council, condemned these attacks as acts of terrorism and deliberate, unjustified aggression.
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Personal note: This doesn't look good and where are they getting these weapons?
This will once more increase the oil shortages - thank God we are tapping ours
currently - otherwise there wouldn't be too many folks on the road.
Of course gas prices will still go up - as we may not be able to supply the entire
US based on oil that we've yet to extract - in quanities to cover our country!
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