U.S. defense secretary says Iran launched 16 missiles from 3 locations

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Wednesday that Iran launched 16 short-range ballistic missiles from three locations within Iran in Tuesday's attack.

Esper told reporters that, among the 16 missiles, 11 hit the Al-Asad base and at least one hit the base near Erbil, adding that the missiles damaged tents, taxiways, parking lots and a helicopter.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed Iran's launching of more than a dozen ballistic missiles against at least two military bases housing the U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the missile attacks, saying that they were meant to retaliate the U.S. killing of General Qassem Soleimani.