As it happened: Missiles fired at US forces in Iraq
Read our main story here; a briefing on US-Iran relations here; a backgrounder on the targeted bases here; a Reality Check on international law here; and analysis on if there's more to come from Iran here.
More from Iraq's Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi. He says his country “rejects any
violation of its sovereignty and attacks on its soil”.
He adds that he is following the situation closely and making the necessary calls to contain it.
This crisis, he warns, is threatening Iraq, the region
and the world with a “devastating all-out war”.
Iraq PM 'warned of attack by Iran'
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Iraq received a warning from Iran shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Iraq’s outgoing Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, says.
The message said Iran had launched, or was about to launch, an attack in response
to the killing of Qasem Soleimani.
Mr Mahdi said they were told the attack
would only target places where US forces were present. He added that they were not
given specific locations.
At the same time, Iraq received a call from
the US that said missiles were falling on Al Asad air base in Anbar province
and Harir air base in Irbil province.
Iraqi forces were warned as soon as the government received
word of the attack,
'Prepare for prolonged confrontation'
BBC News Channel
BBCCopyright: BBC
Tehran's leaders can now tell Iranians they have retaliated after Qasem Soleimani's death, but Iranian proxies could still "wage a relentless attack against the United States", according to Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics.
"Make no mistake about it: this is the beginning of a very prolonged confrontation between Iran and its proxies and the United States and its allies," he told the BBC.
Both Iran and the US are "climbing down" from the confrontation, he said, but the coming days and weeks could be "extremely dangerous".
He said European powers needed to play a "mediating role" to resolve what he called a "man made crisis".
What's been trending?
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
The death of Iran's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, prompted days of speculation about what might happen next.
Alongside his name, phrases like Franz Ferdinand and World War Three sprung up all over social media, with plenty of mentions for the man who ordered the strike - US President Donald Trump.
Hayder Hamzoz of the Iraqi Network for Social Media tweets what he says are photos showing one of the Iranian ballistic missiles that landed in the Hitan area and did not explode.
Hitan is south of the Al Asad air base and west of the town of Hit.
Given the significance of General Soleimani and the passions that his killing aroused - Iran's military strike against US bases in Iraq was a modest response.
The attack was clearly timed to cause as few casualties as possible. Both the US and Iran - for all their rhetoric - do not want a wider conflict. So maybe a line can be drawn under this matter for now.
Is this the end of Iran's retaliation? Time will tell.
But it is hard to see Iranian policy changing. It is presumably still going to try to secure its regional goals, not least the departure of US forces from Iraq.
The Soleimani killing has weakened the US position there. But it was rocket attacks from Iran's proxies - local Shia militia - against US bases that formed the prelude to this recent crisis.
Has the US established any measure of deterrence? And if not, will Iranian-inspired attacks resume in due course?
Three missiles hit north-west of Irbil - Iraqi TV
Two Iranian missiles landed in the village of Sidan, in Irbil province, and a third hit the Bardah Rashsh district in neighbouring Dohuk province, Iraqi state TV reported.
Sidan is about 16km (10 miles) north-west of the city of Irbil, while Bardah Rashsh is 47km (29 miles) to the north-west.
Iraq's military said five missiles were fired towards the Irbil base, where US-led coalition forces are deployed.
No casualties among Iraqi troops - Iraqi military
Iraq was hit by 22 missiles between 01:45 and 02:15 local time on Friday
(22:45-23:15 GMT on Thursday), a statement issued by the Iraqi military’s Joint Operations Command said.
Seventeen were fired
towards Al Asad air base. Two of them fell in the nearby Hitan area, west of
the town of Hit, and did not explode.
The five other missiles were fired towards
the international coalition headquarters in Irbil.
No casualties among the Iraqi forces were
reported.
The statement does not mention the source of the missiles.
Iran president: US 'feet will be cut off from region'
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warns the US that its forces will be removed from the Middle East following the killing of Qasem Soleimani.
"You cut off Soleimani's hand from his body, your feet will be cut off from the region," Iranian media quote him as telling a cabinet meeting.
The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner considers the implications:
Sixty-three Canadian citizens were among those killed in the crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane in Iran, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has said.
There were more than 170 people on board the Boeing-737. Mr Prystaiko said these included:
82 Iranians
63 Canadians
11 Ukrainians, including all the crew
10 Swedes
Four Afghans
Three Germans
Three Britons
Ukraine's embassy in Tehran said engine failure caused the crash and there was no link to terrorism.
Iran’s state news agency, Irna, cites the head of the Tehran governor's
crisis management office as saying that about 140 Iranians were travelling on board
the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 that crashed.
Ukraine’s national security council said separately that 11
Ukrainians had died, Reuters news agency reports.
The flight crashed just after taking off from Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran at 06:12 local time (02:42 GMT) on Wednesday.
It isn't clear whether the crash was linked in any way to the confrontation with the US.
Both sides should 'get back to talking' - Tugendhat
BBC Radio 4
Iran's attack is "not hugely surprising", says Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP and former chairman of the UK's foreign affairs committee.
"As far as I'm aware, it is the first time Iranian ballistic missiles have been fired directly at US bases," he says.
"That is slightly caveating it, because of course the Iranians have been firing missiles via proxy for many, many years."
He added: "If both sides can declare victory and get back to talking, then that would be extremely welcome."
All parties should de-escalate - Barclay
BBC Breakfast
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
All parties "need to de-escalate" because it's in "no side's interest to see war", says the UK's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.
"That’s been the very clear message from the [UK] prime minister and the foreign secretary, and that’s what we urge again this morning," he says.
He adds that PM Boris Johnson will update the House of Commons today and that the issue will also be discussed, along with other matters, at his meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later.
“Ministers across government are engaged heavily on this and are liaising with leaders around the world,” Mr Barclay adds.
“We’re engaging with leaders to try and de-escalate but obviously these are concerning developments.”
BreakingSupreme Leader: 'We slapped them on the face'
More from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei...
“Last night, we
slapped them on the face," he says, talking about the attacks on US targets.
The crowd responds with chants of “death to America”.
He adds: “When it comes to
confrontation, military action of this kind is not enough.
"What is important is
that the corrupt presence of the United States should come to an end.”
Supreme Leader: Iran 'equipped against bullies of the world'
AFPCopyright: AFP
Speaking at an event
commemorating the 1978 Qom protest - a key event leading up to the Islamic
Revolution - Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says “the country is
equipped today against the bullies of the world”.
He says the killed commander Qasem Soleimani’s “martyrdom
shows the liveliness of our revolution to the world”.
As far as we know there aren't causalities. If that continues to be the case, Donald Trump's advisers might be able to say: "This is a win for the United States, Mr President."
He might be able to sit back and say, "I've made another great decision" - and leave it at that for the time being.
I have to emphasise, though, that the wider crisis, conflict, dangers between Iran and the United States very much continue.
Even if this is the end of this particular crisis for now, the real fundamental problems that are at the root of it are very much still there.
The tweet that came from the Iranian side was from the foreign minister, Javad Zarif.
He, I think, was trying to draw a line under the whole thing. He was saying that this concludes their action, that it is in line with international legality - previously he said that the American assassination was terrorism and and act of war.
I think what he's trying to do, and what the Iranians are trying to do, it bat the ball into the American court, because they're very conscious of the disparity in military power between the two sides.
They're saying to the Americans: "It's really down to you now, in terms of whether or not you want to escalate this thing."
Attack a 'small part' of Tehran's capabilities - Iranian military official
The chief of staff of Iran's military, Major General Mohammad Baqeri, says the attack demonstrates a small part of the armed forces' capabilities, according to Iran's state news agency, Irna.
BreakingPlane crash caused by engine failure - Ukrainian embassy
The crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane in Iran was the result of an engine failure, not terrorism, the Ukrainian embassy to Iran says.
Live Reporting
Alice Cuddy, Matt Cannon and Holly Honderich
All times stated are UK
Iraq PM: Crisis threatens 'all-out war'
More from Iraq's Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi. He says his country “rejects any violation of its sovereignty and attacks on its soil”.
He adds that he is following the situation closely and making the necessary calls to contain it.
This crisis, he warns, is threatening Iraq, the region and the world with a “devastating all-out war”.
Iraq PM 'warned of attack by Iran'
Iraq received a warning from Iran shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Iraq’s outgoing Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, says.
The message said Iran had launched, or was about to launch, an attack in response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani.
Mr Mahdi said they were told the attack would only target places where US forces were present. He added that they were not given specific locations.
At the same time, Iraq received a call from the US that said missiles were falling on Al Asad air base in Anbar province and Harir air base in Irbil province.
Iraqi forces were warned as soon as the government received word of the attack,
'Prepare for prolonged confrontation'
BBC News Channel
Tehran's leaders can now tell Iranians they have retaliated after Qasem Soleimani's death, but Iranian proxies could still "wage a relentless attack against the United States", according to Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics.
"Make no mistake about it: this is the beginning of a very prolonged confrontation between Iran and its proxies and the United States and its allies," he told the BBC.
Both Iran and the US are "climbing down" from the confrontation, he said, but the coming days and weeks could be "extremely dangerous".
He said European powers needed to play a "mediating role" to resolve what he called a "man made crisis".
What's been trending?
The death of Iran's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, prompted days of speculation about what might happen next.
Alongside his name, phrases like Franz Ferdinand and World War Three sprung up all over social media, with plenty of mentions for the man who ordered the strike - US President Donald Trump.
Here's a quick guide on what's been trending and why.
Photos of 'unexploded missiles near base'
Hayder Hamzoz of the Iraqi Network for Social Media tweets what he says are photos showing one of the Iranian ballistic missiles that landed in the Hitan area and did not explode.
Hitan is south of the Al Asad air base and west of the town of Hit.
Analysis: A modest response by Iran
Jonathan Marcus
BBC Diplomatic and defence correspondent
Given the significance of General Soleimani and the passions that his killing aroused - Iran's military strike against US bases in Iraq was a modest response.
The attack was clearly timed to cause as few casualties as possible. Both the US and Iran - for all their rhetoric - do not want a wider conflict. So maybe a line can be drawn under this matter for now.
Is this the end of Iran's retaliation? Time will tell.
But it is hard to see Iranian policy changing. It is presumably still going to try to secure its regional goals, not least the departure of US forces from Iraq.
The Soleimani killing has weakened the US position there. But it was rocket attacks from Iran's proxies - local Shia militia - against US bases that formed the prelude to this recent crisis.
Has the US established any measure of deterrence? And if not, will Iranian-inspired attacks resume in due course?
Three missiles hit north-west of Irbil - Iraqi TV
Two Iranian missiles landed in the village of Sidan, in Irbil province, and a third hit the Bardah Rashsh district in neighbouring Dohuk province, Iraqi state TV reported.
Sidan is about 16km (10 miles) north-west of the city of Irbil, while Bardah Rashsh is 47km (29 miles) to the north-west.
Iraq's military said five missiles were fired towards the Irbil base, where US-led coalition forces are deployed.
No casualties among Iraqi troops - Iraqi military
Iraq was hit by 22 missiles between 01:45 and 02:15 local time on Friday (22:45-23:15 GMT on Thursday), a statement issued by the Iraqi military’s Joint Operations Command said.
Seventeen were fired towards Al Asad air base. Two of them fell in the nearby Hitan area, west of the town of Hit, and did not explode.
The five other missiles were fired towards the international coalition headquarters in Irbil.
No casualties among the Iraqi forces were reported.
The statement does not mention the source of the missiles.
Iran president: US 'feet will be cut off from region'
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warns the US that its forces will be removed from the Middle East following the killing of Qasem Soleimani.
"You cut off Soleimani's hand from his body, your feet will be cut off from the region," Iranian media quote him as telling a cabinet meeting.
The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner considers the implications:
BreakingNationalities of crash victims revealed
Sixty-three Canadian citizens were among those killed in the crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane in Iran, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has said.
There were more than 170 people on board the Boeing-737. Mr Prystaiko said these included:
Ukraine's embassy in Tehran said engine failure caused the crash and there was no link to terrorism.
Read more here.
How did we get here?
Here's what to read to get up to speed:
'140 Iranians on board crashed plane' - report
Iran’s state news agency, Irna, cites the head of the Tehran governor's crisis management office as saying that about 140 Iranians were travelling on board the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 that crashed.
Ukraine’s national security council said separately that 11 Ukrainians had died, Reuters news agency reports.
The flight crashed just after taking off from Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran at 06:12 local time (02:42 GMT) on Wednesday.
It isn't clear whether the crash was linked in any way to the confrontation with the US.
Both sides should 'get back to talking' - Tugendhat
BBC Radio 4
Iran's attack is "not hugely surprising", says Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP and former chairman of the UK's foreign affairs committee.
"As far as I'm aware, it is the first time Iranian ballistic missiles have been fired directly at US bases," he says.
"That is slightly caveating it, because of course the Iranians have been firing missiles via proxy for many, many years."
He added: "If both sides can declare victory and get back to talking, then that would be extremely welcome."
All parties should de-escalate - Barclay
BBC Breakfast
All parties "need to de-escalate" because it's in "no side's interest to see war", says the UK's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.
"That’s been the very clear message from the [UK] prime minister and the foreign secretary, and that’s what we urge again this morning," he says.
He adds that PM Boris Johnson will update the House of Commons today and that the issue will also be discussed, along with other matters, at his meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later.
“Ministers across government are engaged heavily on this and are liaising with leaders around the world,” Mr Barclay adds.
“We’re engaging with leaders to try and de-escalate but obviously these are concerning developments.”
BreakingSupreme Leader: 'We slapped them on the face'
More from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei...
“Last night, we slapped them on the face," he says, talking about the attacks on US targets.
The crowd responds with chants of “death to America”.
He adds: “When it comes to confrontation, military action of this kind is not enough.
"What is important is that the corrupt presence of the United States should come to an end.”
Supreme Leader: Iran 'equipped against bullies of the world'
Speaking at an event commemorating the 1978 Qom protest - a key event leading up to the Islamic Revolution - Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says “the country is equipped today against the bullies of the world”.
He says the killed commander Qasem Soleimani’s “martyrdom shows the liveliness of our revolution to the world”.
More from Bowen: 'This is not done and dusted'
Jeremy Bowen
BBC Middle East editor
As far as we know there aren't causalities. If that continues to be the case, Donald Trump's advisers might be able to say: "This is a win for the United States, Mr President."
He might be able to sit back and say, "I've made another great decision" - and leave it at that for the time being.
I have to emphasise, though, that the wider crisis, conflict, dangers between Iran and the United States very much continue.
Even if this is the end of this particular crisis for now, the real fundamental problems that are at the root of it are very much still there.
Iran wants to 'bat ball into US court'
Jeremy Bowen
BBC Middle East editor
This is diplomacy by Twitter.
The tweet that came from the Iranian side was from the foreign minister, Javad Zarif.
He, I think, was trying to draw a line under the whole thing. He was saying that this concludes their action, that it is in line with international legality - previously he said that the American assassination was terrorism and and act of war.
I think what he's trying to do, and what the Iranians are trying to do, it bat the ball into the American court, because they're very conscious of the disparity in military power between the two sides.
They're saying to the Americans: "It's really down to you now, in terms of whether or not you want to escalate this thing."
Attack a 'small part' of Tehran's capabilities - Iranian military official
The chief of staff of Iran's military, Major General Mohammad Baqeri, says the attack demonstrates a small part of the armed forces' capabilities, according to Iran's state news agency, Irna.
BreakingPlane crash caused by engine failure - Ukrainian embassy
The crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane in Iran was the result of an engine failure, not terrorism, the Ukrainian embassy to Iran says.