Trump Announces Iran or Proxies Planning Sneak Attack on US Troops in Iraq, Will Pay Heavy Price if So

President Trump has just taken to Twitter with a surprise announcement, that he has information that “Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq.” He says that “if this happens”, they will “pay a heavy price.”

Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!

Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2020

In January, 34 U.S. service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries stemming from an Iranian missile strike on U.S. troops in Iraq.

Al-Jazeera just released an article stating that, “Iran warns US after Patriot missile deployment to Iraq.” They said that, “United States reportedly deploying Patriot missiles in Iraq to counter possible Iranian rocket attacks.”

Washington had been in talks with Baghdad about the proposed deployment since January, but it was not immediately clear whether it secured its approval or not. Iran, which wields huge influence in Iraq, said it had not.

The US deployment runs “counter to the official position of the Iraqi government, parliament and people”, a foreign ministry statement said on Wednesday.

It accused the US of “warmongering during the Coronavirus outbreak” and warned US military activities in the region could lead it to “instability and disaster”.

US forces should “respect the wishes of the Iraqi people and government and leave the country”, the Iranian foreign ministry added.

“The US is moving defensive systems into Iraq to protect Iraqi, coalition, and US service members from a variety of air threats seen at Iraqi bases that host coalition troops,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Robertson told Al Jazeera.

“It is important to note that repeated attacks on Iraqi bases, which violate Iraqi sovereignty, have killed and injured Iraqi, coalition, and US service members. The establishment of ground-based air defenses in Iraq continues, but for operational security reasons, we are not providing status updates as those systems come online. The Iraqi Government is well aware of our collective need for air defense protection of service members within Iraq, and we continue to coordinate closely with our Iraqi counterparts.”