Iran Strikes Iraq Bases: Washington Post

Iran launched more than 10 ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases with US military personnel, described as retaliation for the death of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani at US hands. Analysts describe the missile attack as restrained, though Iran warned it would meet a US response with additional attacks, including countries hosting US bases. Iran claimed casualties; the United States and Iraq have yet to issue an official report. The US has 5,000 soldiers in Iraq, with 10,000 more sent to the region in recent days. The targeted killing of Soleimani put the region on alert, uniting Iran while dividing the Middle East, the United States and its allies: Opposition leaders in US Congress question whether Soleimani posed an imminent threat and plan resolutions requiring the president to seek congressional authorization for additional attacks. The Iraqi Parliament, not including all members, approved a nonbinding resolution calling for US troop removal; the US president suggested that could subject Iraq to sanctions. The US Department of Defense sent an unsigned letter suggesting that troop "repositioning" would begin before explaining the message was sent in error. “[T]he roots of the conflict reach back to 2018, when Trump withdrew the United States from an international nuclear deal with Iran, which the Obama administration brokered, calling the pact poorly negotiated,” reports the Washington Post. “Instead, [Donald] Trump opted for a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Tehran, which included the reapplication of harsh sanctions. Administration officials said the measures were designed to bring Iran to the table for a new nuclear deal and curb broader malign behavior by Tehran in the Middle East, including its support of Houthi rebels in Yemen.” Soon after the missile launches, a Ukrainian International Airlines passenger flight crashed soon after takeoff in Tehran. Multiple countries are banning flights over the troubled area. – YaleGlobal