MSNBC pushed the unverified report from Iranian state media that claimed to have killed 30 U.S. service members in their ballistic missile attack on Tuesday evening.
The Iranian claim of U.S. causalities in Iraq also circulated on social media despite the Department of Defense quashing the rumors.
"They launched the first wave of attacks in revenge for Soleimani’s killing. We're getting reports as you've just mentioned They have launched a second wave of attacks in the same vicinity. We're also getting unconfirmed reports from state media saying that they have leveled Al-Assad base in Iraq and they have killed 30 U.S. troops. Now, Iran is saying that if there is any retaliation from the United States from these latest two attacks that they have launched by the IRGC directly, they will target all U.S. bases," NBC's Tehran Bureau Chief Ali Arouzi told MSNBC host Chris Hayes an hour after the Pentagon confirmed the attack.
The Pentagon's press statement about the missile attack was released almost a full hour before MSNBC's segment aired. The press statement did not mention any U.S. or Iraqi causalities from the attack.
No U.S. casualties in Iraq after missile strike from Iran, but assessment still ongoing: officials
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) January 8, 2020
Update: I spoke to a senior Defense Department official this morning. No U.S. casualties from the #IranianAttacks https://t.co/85A8BSptGC
— James LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) January 8, 2020
"At approximately 5:30 p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq. It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil," Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Hoffman said. "We are working on initial battle damage assessments."
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