WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump thanked Iran for giving the US and allies “early notice” of Monday’s retaliatory missile strike aimed at a major US military installation in the Gulf nation of Qatar.
The president expressed hope that Tehran – with its reprisal for the US bombardment of three key Iranian nuclear facilities – had “gotten it all out of their `system´” and that the moment would lead to a de-escalation in the Israel-Iran war.
“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done,” Trump said on social media.
“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same,” Trump added according to AP.
The Iranian attack on US forces at Qatar´s Al Udeid Air Base marked Tehran’s first act of direct retaliation against the US since Trump ordered strikes on Iran´s nuclear facilities.
Leon Panetta, who served as CIA director and defense secretary under former President Barack Obama, said Iran´s restrained response suggests that “their ability to respond has probably been damaged pretty badly.” He also said it´s a potential signal “they´re not interested in escalating the war, either with Israel or the United States.”
Trump said Iran launched 14 missiles at the base, a sprawling facility that hosts the forward headquarters of the US military´s Central Command and was a major staging ground during the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The base houses some 8,000 US troops, down from about 10,000 at the height of those wars.
The president said 13 of the Iranian missiles “were knocked down,” by US air defense systems while one was “‘set free’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.”
Hours before Iran launched its attack on Monday, the US Embassy in Qatar issued an alert on its website urging American citizens in the energy-rich nation to “shelter in place until further notice.” The Qatari government issued an extraordinary order to shut its busy airspace.
The attack came as global markets were trying to ascertain what lays ahead after the US struck key Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend with a barrage of 30,000-pound bunker busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles.
