Iran Strikes US Base in Iraq as Washington Warns of 'Decisive Response'

Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at the Ain al-Assad airbase in Anbar province, western Iraq, on Monday, striking one of the largest US military installations in the region. The Pentagon confirmed the attack and said initial assessments indicated structural damage to several facilities on the base. No US fatalities were immediately reported, though several service members were being evaluated for injuries.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strike as "a direct attack on American forces" and warned that Washington would respond with "overwhelming and decisive force." Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Hegseth said all options were on the table and that Iran "will pay a severe price for every American soldier it puts in harm's way."

The attack represents a significant escalation from Iran, which until recently had focused the bulk of its strikes on Israel and Gulf states. Targeting a US base directly crosses a threshold Washington had explicitly warned against in the early days of the conflict.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned the attack and called for all parties to respect Iraqi sovereignty. Baghdad has found itself in an increasingly difficult position since the war began on February 28, with Iranian-aligned militia groups operating on its territory and US forces stationed at multiple bases across the country.

The IRGC claimed responsibility in a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, saying the strike was retaliation for US involvement in the bombing of Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran said it had fired 14 missiles at the base, with "all hitting their targets."

US Central Command confirmed the attack but disputed Iranian claims about the scale of damage, saying air defence systems intercepted the majority of the projectiles. A full damage assessment was underway.