Operation Martyr Soleimani

Operation Martyr Soleimani
Part of events that followed the assassination of Qasem Soleimani during the 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis
Damage (encircled) to at least five structures at Ayn al-Asad airbase in a series of missile attacks by Iran
Operational scopeMilitary strike targeting multiple sites
Locations
Al-Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq

33°48′N 42°26′E / 33.800°N 42.433°E / 33.800; 42.433
Erbil International Airport, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq

36°14′15″N 43°57′47″E / 36.2375°N 43.963056°E / 36.2375; 43.963056
Planned byIran Iran
TargetAl-Asad Airbase
Erbil Airbase
Date8 January 2020, from about 1:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. (UTC+03:00)
Executed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force[1]
11 Qiam 1 missiles[2] hit Al-Asad Airbase[3]
CasualtiesUnited States 110 U.S. military personnel wounded (traumatic brain injuries)[4]
Operation Martyr Soleimani is located in Mesopotamia
Al-Asad Airbase
Al-Asad Airbase
Operation Martyr Soleimani
Location of the targets hit

On 8 January 2020, in a military operation code named Operation Martyr Soleimani (Persian: عملیات شهید سلیمانی),[5] Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched over 12 ballistic missiles at the al-Asad Airbase in Al Anbar Governorate, western Iraq, as well as another airbase in Erbil, in response to the assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani by a United States drone strike.[6][7][8]

The strike was the largest ballistic missile attack ever against U.S. forces abroad.[9] Initially, the U.S. was not willing to concede the seriousness of the attack.[10] While it initially assessed that none of its service members were injured or killed,[11][8] the U.S. Department of Defense ultimately said that 110 service members had been diagnosed and treated for traumatic brain injuries (mainly concussions) from the attack. Some of them were later awarded the Purple Heart.

Iran reportedly informed the Iraqi government of an imminent attack shortly beforehand.[12] The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the attack was intended to kill,[13] however some analysts suggested the strike was deliberately designed to avoid causing any fatalities in order to dissuade an armed American response.[14][15] The U.S. said it was able to avoid fatalities because the United States Space Force provided early warning.[16][17]

In the months following the attack, the U.S. deployed Patriot and other missile defense systems to some of their Iraqi bases. Additionally, the high alert of Iranian forces after the attack may have caused the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 shootdown.[18]

  1. ^ "IRGC Aerospace Commander: Wednesday Missile Strikes Mark Start of Major Operations Across Region". Fars News Agency. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  2. ^ Roblin, Sebastian (11 January 2020). "Meet the Qiam Missile Iran Used to Blast a U.S. Airbase". The National Interest. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  3. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (8 January 2020). "Did Iran Intentionally Avoid Killing U.S. Soldiers in Last Night's Missile Attack?". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. ^ Number of US troops wounded in Iran attack now at 110: Pentagon ABS News, 22 February 2020
  5. ^ Martinez, Luis; McLaughlin, Elizabeth (7 January 2020). "Iran launches missiles into US air bases in Iraq: US official". ABC News. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  6. ^ Safi, Michael; Holmes, Oliver; Abdul-Ahad, Ghaith (8 January 2020). "Iran launches missiles at Iraq airbases hosting US and coalition troops". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  7. ^ Eqbali, Aresu; Malsin, Jared; Leary, Alex (7 January 2020), "Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Forces in Iraq", Wall Street Journal, retrieved 7 January 2020
  8. ^ a b Rubin, Alissa Johannsen; Fassihi, Farnaz; Schmitt, Eric; Yee, Vivian (7 January 2020). "Iran Fires on U.S. Forces at 2 Bases in Iraq, Calling It 'Fierce Revenge'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  9. ^ 60 Minutes (28 February 2021), Never-before-seen video of the attack on Al Asad Airbase, retrieved 9 December 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :17 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Tapper, Jake; Browne, Ryan; Starr, Barbara (16 January 2020). "US troops were injured in Iran missile attack despite Pentagon initially saying there were no casualties". CNN. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Iraq warning was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Ayash, Kamal; Davison, John (13 January 2020). Thevenot, Brian (ed.). "Hours of forewarning saved U.S., Iraqi lives from Iran's missile attack". Reuters. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  14. ^ Baker, Peter (8 January 2020). "Trump Backs Away From Further Military Conflict With Iran". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  15. ^ Safi, Michael (8 January 2020). "Iran's assault on US bases in Iraq might satisfy both sides". The Guardian.
  16. ^ Cohen, Rachel S. (27 February 2020). "For Missile Warning in Iraq, Thank the Space Force". Air Force Magazine.
  17. ^ "Number of US troops wounded in Iran attack now at 110: Pentagon". France 24. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference NewAA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).