Iran fires missiles targeting US military bases to avenge Soleimani killing

US officials said Soleimani was killed because forces under his command planned attacks on US targets

Iranian forces fired missiles at military bases housing US troops in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for the US killing of an Iranian general, raising the stakes in its conflict with Washington amid concern of a wider war in West Asia.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing a gathering of Iranians chanting “Death to America”, said the attacks were a "slap on the face" of the United States and said US troops should leave the region.

Tehran’s foreign minister said Iran took “proportionate measures” in self-defence and did not seek to escalate the confrontation.

The next move appeared to lie with Washington.