[Breaking] Trump: No American Casualties in Iran Attack

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Kim Bong-su] On the 8th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a speech at the White House at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time that two U.S. military bases in Iraq were hit by Iranian missile attacks, but "there were no American casualties."

President Trump said, "No Americans were injured in last night's attack by the Iranian regime, and minimal military facilities were destroyed."

Earlier, President Trump posted on Twitter the night before, saying, "It's okay. So far, so good," and announced that he would deliver a national address that morning, stating, "We have by far the most powerful and best-equipped military anywhere in the world!"

Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper stood behind President Trump during the speech, reflecting the serious atmosphere.

Previously, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory attack by firing a dozen ballistic missiles at at least two U.S. military bases in Iraq, including Ain al-Asad Airbase and Erbil base, in response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, by a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport on the 3rd. The IRGC named this operation "Shahid (Martyr) Soleimani," clearly indicating its retaliatory nature.

However, there were no reported U.S. casualties. President Trump tweeted, "All is well!" and "So far, so good!" In contrast, Iranian state media cited a senior IRGC source claiming that at least 80 American terrorists were killed. The IRGC also threatened to attack the U.S. mainland, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Haifa and Tel Aviv in Israel if the U.S. retaliated.

As a result, airlines worldwide canceled flights to the Middle East, putting the entire world on high alert. The international financial markets were also hit hard, with stock prices plummeting and global oil prices soaring.

However, there are growing indications that Iran indirectly notified the U.S. of its attack plans through Iraq and that the limited provocations were intended to avoid escalation into full-scale war, as no U.S. casualties occurred. The U.S. response is therefore being closely watched.