US troops were tipped off about Iran missile strikes by Iraqi PM after he was warned by Tehran about imminent attack
IRAQ'S Prime Minister got a tip off the Iranian missile strikes were "about to start" and warned American troops.
Iran targeted two US military bases in the country in revenge attacks last night for the killing of its top general Qasem Soleimani.
In a statement a spokesman for Abdul Mahdi said: "Shortly after midnight on Wednesday we received a verbal message from the Islamic Republic of Iran that the Iranian response to the assassination of the martyr Qassem Soleimani had started or was about to start."
The spokesman added the prime minister was told Iran would only target locations where US forces were present but did not specify where these targets were.
Iraq then gave advanced warnings to the US the strikes were coming, US officials .
At least 15 missiles were fired at Al Asad and Erbil air bases overnight.
Al Asad air base, nicknamed Camp Cupcake by troops, is a coalition base shared by Iraqi, American and some British armed forces and is thought to house around 1,500 soldiers.
Iran bragged today it had given America a "slap in the face" following its retaliated attacks on the US military sites.
Iran's state TV boasted the operation was named 'Martyr Soleimani' and claimed 80 "American terrorists" had been killed in the strike.
But President Trump dispelled the rumours, taking to Twitter to say "all was well" after the strikes.
He wrote: "All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now.
"So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far!"
Soon after the missiles were launched, Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif called the attack a proportionate measure in self-defence and said he doesn't want the situation to escalate.
He said: “Iran took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defence under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens and senior officials were launched.
“We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.”
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