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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iran attack: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemns missile strikes | Iran attack: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemns missile strikes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dominic Raab has condemned a ballistic missile attack by Iran on air bases in Iraq where coalition forces, including British personnel, are stationed. | Dominic Raab has condemned a ballistic missile attack by Iran on air bases in Iraq where coalition forces, including British personnel, are stationed. |
| The foreign secretary urged Iran not to repeat "reckless and dangerous attacks" after strikes on bases in Irbil in the north, and al Asad, west of Baghdad. | The foreign secretary urged Iran not to repeat "reckless and dangerous attacks" after strikes on bases in Irbil in the north, and al Asad, west of Baghdad. |
| The Ministry of Defence said there were no UK casualties. | The Ministry of Defence said there were no UK casualties. |
| Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the action was in retaliation for the death of General Qasem Soleimani on Friday. | Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the action was in retaliation for the death of General Qasem Soleimani on Friday. |
| He was killed outside Baghdad airport in a missile strike ordered by US President Donald Trump. | He was killed outside Baghdad airport in a missile strike ordered by US President Donald Trump. |
| Mr Raab said he was concerned by reports of casualties and a war in the Middle East would only benefit terrorist groups. | Mr Raab said he was concerned by reports of casualties and a war in the Middle East would only benefit terrorist groups. |
| Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay stressed that all parties in the crisis "need to de-escalate". | Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay stressed that all parties in the crisis "need to de-escalate". |
| "It's in no side's interest to see war," he said. | "It's in no side's interest to see war," he said. |
| Mr Barclay added that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would be updating the House of Commons later, and would also discuss the situation at a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday. | Mr Barclay added that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would be updating the House of Commons later, and would also discuss the situation at a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday. |
| Iran's ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, said in a statement on Twitter that the attack was an act of self-defence and the country "does not seek escalation or war". | Iran's ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, said in a statement on Twitter that the attack was an act of self-defence and the country "does not seek escalation or war". |
| The country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei described the attack as "a slap in the face" for the US. | |
| The US president tweeted "all is well" following the strikes, adding that casualties and damage were being assessed and that he will make a statement on Wednesday morning. | |
| There are around 400 UK troops stationed in Iraq, primarily to assist Iraqi troops in defeating IS. | There are around 400 UK troops stationed in Iraq, primarily to assist Iraqi troops in defeating IS. |
| More than a dozen missiles were fired from Iranian territories into Iraq at about 02:00 local time on Wednesday (22:30 GMT, Tuesday). | |
| The al Asad airbase - located in the Anbar province of western Iraq - was hit by at least six missiles. | The al Asad airbase - located in the Anbar province of western Iraq - was hit by at least six missiles. |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesman added: "We are urgently working to establish the facts on the ground. Our first priority continues to be the security of British personnel." | A Ministry of Defence spokesman added: "We are urgently working to establish the facts on the ground. Our first priority continues to be the security of British personnel." |
| Iran vowed "severe revenge" following the assassination of Soleimani on 3 January. | |
| The general - who controlled Iran's proxy forces across the Middle East - was regarded as a terrorist by the US government, which says he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and was plotting "imminent" attacks. | |
| On Tuesday, the UK put the Royal Navy and military helicopters on standby in the Gulf amid the rising tensions in the Middle East. | On Tuesday, the UK put the Royal Navy and military helicopters on standby in the Gulf amid the rising tensions in the Middle East. |
| The government said non-essential UK personnel had also been moved out of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. | The government said non-essential UK personnel had also been moved out of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. |