CCI SPECIAL ADVISORY
Potential Iranian Retaliation Against US Targets
January 2, 2020
Situation
Over the past several days, a series of events involving the US and Iran have escalated rapidly:
- On December 27, 2019 an American contractor was killed in a rocket attack on a US military facility in Kirkuk, Iraq.
- On December 29, 2019 US airstrikes attacked three targets in Iraq and two targets in Syria reportedly controlled by Iranian proxy militia groups.
- On December 31, 2019 militia groups reportedly supported by Iran attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad. The US responded by deploying approximately 750 ground troops to Baghdad and flying missions with attack helicopters over the city.
- On January 2, 2020 US Defense Secretary Esper made public comments that the US “could take preemptive action against Iran.”
- On January 2, 2020 deputy head of Hashed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Quds Force head Qasem Soleimani were killed just outside the Baghdad airport in a strike by US forces ordered by President Trump.
Assessment
The likelihood of Iranian retaliation for the January 2 events is high. Although military and other governmental sites in the region are certainly at risk, attacks on US targets and interests globally are possible, if not likely. Read full Advisory.