Iran says 80 'American terrorists' killed in missile strikes on US army bases
Iranian state television on Wednesday claimed that at least 80 "American terrorists" were killed after Tehran launched 15 missiles on US targets in Iraq. The state media also added that none of the missiles were intercepted, reported Al Jazeera.
Iran will welcome any Indian peace initiative for de-escalating its tensions with US: Iranian Envoy
Iran will welcome any peace initiative by India for de-escalating its tensions with the US after the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian envoy here said on Wednesday. His comments come hours after Iran launched missile strikes against two US military bases in Iraq in retaliation to the killing of its top commander General Qassem Soleimani.
No Iraqi casualties after 22 missiles strike bases housing US troops: Iraq military
Iran Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says 'slap in face' delivered to US: AFP news agency
India asks citizens to avoid travel to Iraq
India on Wednesday issued an advisory for Indian nationals asking them to avoid travelling to Iraq for now.
The advisory came soon after Iran claimed to have attacked two US military bases in Iraq, in retaliation to the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack on January 3.
Fearing further escalation, the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said: "In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification."
(IANS)
'Urge Iran not to repeat these reckless attacks': UK condemns strikes on US bases in Iraq
The United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday condemned Iran's missile attacks on two US-led coalition military bases in Iraq and called on Tehran to not repeat such "reckless and dangerous" attacks and ensure there is de-escalation of tensions in the region soon.
"We condemn this attack on Iraqi military bases hosting Coalition including British forces. We are concerned by reports of casualties and use of ballistic missiles. We urge Iran not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks, and instead to pursue urgent de-escalation," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.
(ANI)
Region cannot afford war, says Pak FM Qureshi
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that rising tensions in the Middle East was not in anyone's interest, adding that the region could not afford war.
"The region cannot afford war. It is not in anyone's interest and will impact the global economy," Dawn news quoted Qureshi as saying in a statement.
(IANS)
UAE airlines cancel Baghdad flights after missile strikes
UAE carriers Emirates Airline and low-cost Flydubai said Wednesday they had cancelled flights to Baghdad for "operational reasons" after Iran fired ballistic missiles on bases housing US troops.
"Emirates flights EK 943 from Dubai to Baghdad and flight EK 944 from Baghdad to Dubai on 8 January have been cancelled for operational reasons," Emirates Airline said in a statement.
Iraq says Iran informed it of imminent missile attack on US forces. (AFP)
Iran finds black boxes from crashed plane: Aviation authority
Iranian search and rescue teams have found the black boxes from a Ukrainian airliner that crashed Wednesday soon after takeoff from Tehran's main airport, the country's civil aviation authority said.
"The two black boxes of the Ukranian 737 aeroplane that crashed this morning have been found," said the authority's spokesman, Reza Jafarzadeh, according to semi-official news agency ISNA. (AFP)
Iran's supreme leader urges US to leave region
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called on the US to pull its forces out of region, hours after Iran launched missile attacks on two US military bases in Iraq.
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, Xinhua news agency reported.
