Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said missile strikes on military bases housing American forces were not sufficient retribution for the U.S. killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
“They were slapped last night, but such military actions are not enough,” Khamenei said on Twitter following the attacks.
They were slapped last night, but such military actions are not enough. #AlAssadBase
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) January 8, 2020
He made a similar statement during a televised address and additionally called for American troops to withdraw from the region.
“Military operations do not suffice. What is important in addition to retaliation is to end the U.S.’s corrupting presence in the region,” Khamenei said in the speech. “The discussion about revenge is something else, this was just a slap in the face last night.”
Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi air bases, the Pentagon said late Tuesday. The missiles hit Al Asad air base, a joint U.S.-Iraqi facility in Iraq’s Anbar province, and another in Irbil in Kurdistan. No American casualties were reported.
Khamenei’s statement appears to contrast Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s comments about the strikes. Zarif said his nation “concluded proportionate measures in self-defense” and does “not seek escalation or war.”
“But [we] will defend ourselves against any aggression,” he added.
Iranian officials vowed revenge for the death of Soleimani, who led the Quds Force and coordinated Iranian proxy terrorist groups in the Middle East.
President Trump was upbeat in a tweet about the attacks.
“All is well,” he wrote. “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!”
