Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Says ‘Slap In Face’ Delivered To US (Photo Credit: Reuters)
New Delhi:
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said that Tehran has delivered a "slap in the face" of the United States. The statement from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes hours after a total of 22 missiles struck two bases housing US troops.
"Iran is a peaceful country that does not seek escalation with any other nation. We are prepared to deal with the bullies of the world," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state television. "Last night, a slap in the face was delivered," he added.
Earlier in the day, the Iraqi military command said, “Between 1:45 am and 2:15 am (2245 GMT and 2315 GMT) Iraq was hit by 22 missiles, 17 on the Ain al-Asad airbase and...five on the city of Arbil.” It further added that the attack sites are being used by the US-led international coalition. “There were no victims among the Iraqi forces,” the military said.
In the meantime, the Iranian state television said, 80 "American terrorists" were killed in ballistic missiles targeting at least two bases where US military and coalition forces' are stationed in Iraq.
On Tuesday, Iran's parliament passed a bill designating all US forces "terrorists" over the killing of a top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in a US strike last week.
Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.
