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US President today said that there were no casualties and only minimal damage sustained after Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles targeting two Iraqi airbases that house US troops..
The US president has earlier threatened military action against Iran if it were to target US personnel and bases. But he stopped short of this, saying the attack had caused no casualties.
“Iran appears to be standing down,” Trump said in an address to his countrymen from the White House. “No American or Iraqi lives were lost because of the precautions taken, the dispersal of forces and an early warning system that worked very well”
The missiles were fired early Wednesday following threats by Iranian leaders of retaliation against the United States for a U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian commander.
“No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime,” he said.
He also said that “American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent”.
“The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it.”
“Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned,” he added.
Mr Trump also said the US would immediately impose additional financial and economic sanctions on Iran, which would remain until it “changed its behaviour”.
“Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism,” he said.
Trump said Quds force commander Qassem Soleimani “was responsible for some of the absolutely worst atrocities.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a “slap in the face” for the US and called for an end to the American presence in the Middle East.
US must leave region: Iran supreme leader