IRGC PROUDLY TAKES CREDIT FOR MISSILE ATTACK - WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PATRIOT AIR DEFENSE BATTERIES
https://sputniknews.com/20220313/missile-attacks-on-erbil-targeted-secret-israeli-bases-report-suggests-1093823605.html
Ballistic Missiles Strike Near U.S. Base in Erbil, Iraq (Updated)
We must stress that these reported details could change significantly as this story is still rapidly evolving. We will report back as soon as more information comes available.
UPDATE:
More video coming in from the scene as well as some damage and casualty assessments:
We should be getting an official statement out of the US soon.
The targeting is what is key here. If Iran targeted something under construction or an area where nobody should be, the messaging is focused on displaying/reminding/signaling the capability and the will to use it. Russia is also close to Iran. This is a very convenient distraction, although that is just conjecture. If this target area was a place where people usually are, along with other operational capabilities, the intent changes. Regardless it is a major escalation, but maybe not one worth meeting at this time considering everything else going on in the world.
UPDATE: 7:45 PST—
Iraq says it is launching an investigation into the "bombing incident." Very strange language for this type of event:
UPDATE: 7:55 PM EST—
Just in from a State Department spokesperson:
There is no damage or casualties at any U.S. Government facility.
The incident is being investigated by the government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government and we refer you to them for comment.
We condemn this outrageous attack and display of violence.
This statement is very vague and lacking in detail considering the nature of the attack. It seems clear the U.S. is looking to downplay this attack.
UPDATE: 8:20 EST—
Latest news from Reuters. Possibly 12 missiles laucnhed.
UPDATED: 10:30 PM PST—
No surprise here, but the missiles appear to have emanated from Iran.
We were under the impression that a Patriot battery was still in place in Erbil to protect facilities near the impact area and the general area overall. Why wasn't the Patriot battery activated? Maybe it was, but there is no evidence of that at this time and it is hardly something that would be missed. Then again, maybe it was withdrawn as part of a larger drawdown of air defense systems from the region in mid-2021, some of which were deployed only after the 2020 Iranian ballistic missile attacks in Iraq.
UPDATE: 3:50 AM EST—
Iranian state TV says Iran executed the attack against "secret Israeli bases" according to multiple reports. The Haaretz reports:
Iran's Revolutionary Guards took responsibility for the attack later on Sunday and warned Israel of a "harsh, decisive and destructive response" in case of future attacks, Iran's state TV said. The attack reportedly targeted "secret Israeli bases."
Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen news outlet cited Iranian sources as saying that the attack was not related to Israel's alleged killing of two Iranian Revolutionary Guard members in Syria last week, but rather to other Israeli operations against Iranian targets.
The report said that the ballistic missiles were fired at Mossad headquarters in Erbil, and that there have been casualties at the site. It also mentioned that Iranian intelligence agents took down an Israeli spy ring operating in the country in an attempt to recruit local agents.
U.S. and Iraqi officials maintain that nothing of significance was hit and that there were no casualties.
Iran's bizarre claims just add to the strange circumstances of this attack and the response to it.
We also have new video from within and outside television station during the attack:
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44728/breaking-reported-ballistic-missile-attack-near-u-s-base-in-erbil-iraq