Trump says no US casualties in Iran attacks, signaling de-escalation

Here is what's happening:

Iran fired a series of missiles at US military bases in Iraq on Wednesday to avenge the killing of the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force by the United States, worsening the already tense situation in the Persian Gulf region. Read more

Updates: 

Jan 9 (Beijing Time)

US House to vote Thursday on curbing Trump actions against Iran

Speaker Nancy Pelosi set a House vote for Thursday on limiting President Donald Trump's ability to take military action against Iran as Democratic criticism of the US killing of a top Iranian general intensified.

Pelosi, D-Calif., announced the plan in a one-page statement that said last week's drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani was "provocative and disproportionate."

Trump says no US casualties in Iran attacks, signaling de-escalation

"No Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime. We suffered no casualties," US President Donald Trump said in a televised White House address.

Trump noted in the remarks that "Iran appears to be standing down," calling it "a good thing" for all parties concerned.

"The United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime. These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior," he added.

The US president also highlighted the military strength of his country, which he suggested as the "best deterrent" and "does not mean we have to use it." He said he would ask NATO to become more involved in the Middle East.

In the meantime, Trump hinted at potential cooperation between Washington and Tehran. "The destruction of ISIS (the Islamic State) is good for Iran, and we should work together on this and other shared priorities," he said at the conclusion of the speech. Read more

Jan 8

10:00 pm

US forces withdraw from 2 bases in Syria's Hasakah

The US troops withdrew on Wednesday from two military bases in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah following the overnight retaliatory attacks by Iran on US troops based in Iraq, state news agency SANA reported.

The US forces withdrew from a base in the Kharab al-Jir area in the northeastern countryside of Hasakah province in northeastern Syria near the Syrian-Iraqi border on Wednesday, six months after they created it.

Citing eye-witnesses, SANA said 40 truckloads of military gears were seen leaving the base toward the al-Walid crossing between Syria and Iraq.

SANA also said the US troops abandoned their military base in the city of Shaddadi toward the al-Hol area in the northeastern countryside of Hasakah as a prelude to moving into neighboring Iraq.

09:30 pm

Germany, France call for de-escalation after Iran missile strikes

Germany condemned on Wednesday Iran's ballistic missile attacks on bases hosting US forces in Iraq, calling for every effort to de-escalate the tensions.

"We condemn the Iranian missile attack on Iraqi military bases, which also include coalition forces. We call on Iran to refrain from any steps that could lead to a further escalation," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, according to a press release.

"We have been in contact with all sides for days to try to calm the situation. Everyone is asked to exercise prudence and restraint in this situation," Maas added.

Also on Wednesday, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian condemned the Iranian missile strikes, and called for de-escalation of the tensions between Iran and the United States.

"France condemns the attacks... The priority goes more than ever to de-escalation. The cycle of violence must end," said Le Drian in a press release.

08:10 pm

Sri Lankan Airlines alters routes to avoid Iranian, Iraqi airspace

Sri Lanka's national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines said on Wednesday that it is temporarily avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace in view of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The airlines said in a statement that it has altered its Colombo-London route to avoid the airspace of Iran and Iraq with immediate effect as a precautionary measure.

"Our Colombo to London route was flying over Iran but now we decided to shift the route through Egypt," Sri Lankan Airlines Media Manager Deepal Perera told Xinhua.

The statement also said the carrier is working with local and international authorities to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.

06:30 pm

Emirates airline cancels flights to Baghdad after Iran missile strikes

The United Arab Emirates's carrier Emirates airline on Wednesday cancelled flights to Baghdad in the wake of last night's Iranian missile attack on US bases in Iraq.

"Emirates flights EK 943 from Dubai to Baghdad and flights EK 944 from Baghdad to Dubai on Jan 8 have been cancelled for operational reasons," according to a statement of Emirates airline.

"We are carefully monitoring the developments and are in close contact with the relevant government authorities with regards to our flight operations, and will make further operational changes if required," it added.

Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles on early Wednesday targeting US bases in Iraq to retaliate the US killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

04:00 pm

Iran's senior commander warns US against new attack on Iran

In a statement, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Hossein Baqeri said the missile attacks against the US military bases in Iraq gave a warning to the US' authorities.

He said the attacks on the American forces in Iraq revealed only a small part of the capabilities of the Iranian Armed Forces.

"From now on, any new evil act by the US will face a stronger and more crushing response with a broader range," he added.

"The time has come for the evil authorities of the United States to realize the Islamic Republic's capabilities and pull the forces of their terrorist army out of the region as soon as possible," Baqeri was quoted as saying.

03:55 pm

Iran's supreme leader urges US exit from region

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on the US to pull its forces out of region.

Khamenei referred to Iran's missile strike on the US bases, saying that "they were slapped" on the face.

However, "military operations of this kind is not enough," and "what is important is to put an end to the corruptive presence of the Americans in the region," he said.

He gave a speech in Iran's religious city of Qom broadcast live on state TV.

Khamenei said that "Americans have brought war, sedition, destruction and division to the region."

He said "our region and the nations of our region no longer accept the presence of Americans."

02:45 pm

No casualties reported in Iranian missile attacks: Iraqi military

According to a statement released by the media office affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, a total of 22 Iranian missiles were launched.

Of them, 17 struck the Ayn al-Asad air base in Iraq's western province of Anbar, and five landed on the US headquarters near the city of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, the statement said.

02:20 pm

lran's FM says Tehran gives 'proportionate' response

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that Iran has given a "proportionate" response to the US recent assassination of a top Iranian military leader.

"Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens and senior officials were launched," Zarif tweeted.

Zarif also tweeted that "we do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression."

11:00 am

Trump says 'All is well'

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that an assessment of the casualties and damage from Iranian missile strikes on two Iraqi military facilities was underway and he would make a statement on the situation on Wednesday morning.

"All is well!" Trump said in a post on Twitter.

10:30 am

Iran does not seek escalation: Foreign minister

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

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

09:10 am

FAA bans airlines from flying over Iraq, Iran

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it would ban US carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq.

08:10 am

Pentagon confirms Iran attacks

The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that Iran has launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq.

"At approximately 5:30 pm (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq," the Pentagon said in a statement.

"It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting US military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad & Irbil," the statement said.

08:00 am

Trump briefed on attacks

US President Donald Trump has been briefed on reports of an attack on US facilities in Iraq and is monitoring the situation, White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said on Tuesday.

"We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.

A US official told Reuters that rockets have been fired at Iraq's al Asad airbase, which hosts US forces. It was not immediately clear what the extent of damage or casualties were amid tensions between Washington and Tehran following the US killing on Friday of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.