2020 Iranian attack on U.S. forces in Iraq — Iranian military offensive on January 8, 2020
The largest ballistic missile attack ever against U.S. forces abroad, resulting in 110 traumatic brain injury cases and heightened regional tensions.
Key Facts
- Missiles launched
- Over 12 ballistic missiles
- Primary target
- Al-Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Governorate
- U.S. TBI cases
- 110 service members diagnosed and treated
- Operation codename
- Operation Martyr Soleimani
- U.S. fatalities
- 0
- Early warning provider
- United States Space Force
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On 3 January 2020, a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad Airport. Iran declared it would retaliate, and the IRGC prepared a ballistic missile offensive targeting U.S. military installations in Iraq as a direct response to Soleimani's assassination.
On 8 January 2020, the IRGC launched over 12 ballistic missiles at al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq and a second airbase in Erbil under the codename Operation Martyr Soleimani. The attack, the largest ballistic missile strike ever against U.S. forces overseas, caused no fatalities but left 110 service members with traumatic brain injuries, primarily concussions.
The U.S. deployed Patriot and additional missile defense systems to Iraqi bases in the months following the attack. Some injured service members were awarded the Purple Heart. The heightened alert state of Iranian forces in the aftermath is believed to have contributed to the accidental shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing all 176 aboard.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent