Could Iran’s retaliation against the United States lead to war?

So it happened. Iran has just struck back against the United States for its killing of Quds force chief Qassem Soleimani on 3 January. The Iranians had vowed to retaliate from almost the moment that their most potent – and famous – commander was killed. Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei had vowed a “severe revenge.” Now it has come. And while it may not so far be “severe “exactly, it was undoubtedly swift and it was bold.

Details are still pouring in about the strike but it is clear that Iran has struck two bases housing US and coalition forces in Iraq with more than a dozen missiles. The strikes targeted the Al-Asad airbase located in the Anbar province of western Iraq, which was hit by at least six missiles, and another in the city of Erbil, in the country’s northern Kurdish enclave. There appear to be no US casualties though a damage assessment is still underway.

Iranian state TV has just aired video it says shows launch of missile strikes on US bases in Iraq