US-Iran and Israel-Iran tensions timeline 2020

This timeline is the second part of a timeline that goes back to 2017, see the first part here. It seeks to include details about rising US-Iran tensions and also Israel-Iran tensions.

2020

January 1

US deploys 100 Marines to Baghdad and sends 750 paratroopers to Middle East. Trump condemns attack on embassy and Pompeo says US will secure its personnel, “The attack today was orchestrated by terrorists – Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qays al-Khazali – and abetted by Iranian proxies – Hadi al Amari and Faleh al-Fayyad. All are pictured below outside our embassy.”

Report: “These 650 paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment deployed from Pope Army Airfield, N.C. today. The rest of brigade—some 3,000+ soldiers—are ‘ready to deploy,’ in coming days if needed, 82nd Airborne Division statement says.” 82nd Airborne personnel board C-17 Globemasters for the flight. US SecDef Mark Esper “The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world.”

US Special operations of CJTF:OIR: “We are here to help Iraq in its fight against Daesh. Rocket bombardment of coalition and Iraqi forces, and mob violence at US Embassy, orchestrated by Kataib Hezbollah, prevent us from assisting.”

US soldiers in Baghdad provide overwatch to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. US releases video of attack on the embassy.

Pompeo speaks with Deputy PM and Foreign Minister of #Qatar, Mohammed Al Thani, Netanyahu and Iraq’s Prime Minister. Pompeo “The attack today was orchestrated by terrorists – Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qays al-Khazali – and abetted by Iranian proxies – Hadi al Amari and Faleh al-Fayyad. All are pictured below outside our embassy.”

Khamenei says US taking revenge on PMU.

Interior Minister Yassin al-Yasiri “said that American attacks on an Iraqi militia had invited trouble. ‘These are the dangerous ramifications of this strike…What happened today is the danger that we were afraid of and that the Americans should have been afraid of’”.

Graffiti left behind on embassy reads “Soleimani is my leader”: “سليماني قائدي”

ISOF members of security forces arrive to guard US embassy.

January 2

US helicopters fly over Baghdad.

Major airlift of C-17s arrive in Middle East.

Press TV quotes Bahraini cleric claiming US raids are attack on Islamic Ummah.

January 3

Drone attack at Baghdad International Airport killed Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Trump ordered strike and claims it was to prevent attacks and prevent a war. Iran vows harsh revenge. Pompeo says US committed to de-escalation as US citizens leave Iraq. Iraq’s Parliament speaker condemns attack.

Esmail Qaani named Soleimani successor.

Israel on high alert after strike that killed Soleimani. “Israel’s foreign ministry and defence officials announced a high-security alert at Israel’s oversea delegations, fearing retaliation by Iran following the death of Soleimani.” Netanyahu returns from Greece and officials meet at military HQ in Tel Aviv. Israel concerned over tensions in north and Gaza.

Press TV runs full page mourning Soleimani.

‘For Trump, a risky decision’ – NYT

Asaib Ahl al-Haq orders members to prepare for coming battle.

Hadi al-Amiri takes over Muhandis’ post as Vice President of the PMU.

State Department designates Asaib Ahl al-Haq as terrorist group. It says that Qais Khazali, who was designated in early December 2019, and AAH was responsible for 6,000 attacks on US forces.

Israel releases 2018 data, says it struck 54 targets in Syria.

Pompeo speaks to Iraqi Kurdistan region PM Masrour Barzani.

January 4

US forces report two small attacks: “At 7:46 International Zone took indirect fire that landed outside of Coalition facilities and potentially harmed Iraqi civilians. At 7:50 p.m. rockets landed in the vicinity of Balad Air Base.”

Pompeo speaks to Turkish FM, Iraqi President Salih, Bahraini Crown Prince, UAE Crown Prince and Netanyahu.

Thousands in Iraq mourn Soleimani and Muhandis.

January 5

Iraq votes for US troops leaving, Iraqi PM, who has resigned, argues US should leave.

Pompeo speaks to Qatar leader and India External Affairs Minister.

Massive crowds turn out in Iran for Soleimani funeral.

Only 130 Iraqi MPs arrive to vote for US leaving Iraq.

January 6

US military letter saying US repositioning force is leaked, US Chair of Joint Chiefs say it was a mistake. Defense Secretary Esper says US not leaving Iraq.

Iran FM Zarif says he met Soleimani weekly.

NATO suspends anti-ISIS operations in Iraq (first reported on January 4).

Pompeo speaks with Kuwait FM and Saudi Vice-Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman.

January 7

Iran vows revenge for Soleimani death, amid concerns US bases across region could be targeted. FM Zarif says it will be proportionate.

Inside the drones used to kill Soleimani – Task and Purpose

Dozens die in Soleimani funeral.

Masoud Barzani: “If the process of resolving the current issue in the Middle East region is in accordance to a path of reason and wisdom, we are certainly ready to cooperate. However, we can not be involved in any proxy wars.”

January 8

At 5am in the morning Baghdad time more than a dozen Iranian ballistic missiles strike Ayn al-Assad base and near Erbil International Airport.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Office says it was informed by Iran of the attack prior.

Did Iran avoid US casualties in rocket strike? US Chairman of Joint Chiefs says it “has more to do with the defensive techniques our forces used than it does with intent…Al-Asad is a big base. They put 11 large rockets with 1,000-pound, 2,000-pound warheads in it, but we took sufficient defensive measures.” Damage was done to “tentage, taxiways, the parking lot, a damaged helicopter, things like that. Nothing that I would describe as major,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper added. “No friendly casualties whether they’re U.S., coalition, contractor, etc.” Further assessment: Iran fired 16 ballistic missiles from 3 sites “intended to destroy vehicles & equipment & kill personnel,” US says. 11 targeted al Asad Air Base, 1 in Erbil, 4 failed.

Zarif: “Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched. We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.”

Trump speech indicates new sanctions, “Peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment violence, unrest, hatred, and war. The civilized world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime: Your campaign of terror, murder, mayhem will not be tolerated any longer. It will not be allowed to go forward.

Today, I am going to ask NATO to become much more involved in the Middle East process.”

Two rockets land near Green Zone around midnight between January . US CJTFOIR: “The military Coalition confirms small rockets impacted near Baghdad’s International Zone, Jan. 8 at 11:45 p.m. (Baghdad Time). No Coalition casualties or damage to facilities.”

January 9

US assess damage after rocket fire at midnight.

Ryan Browne of CNN: In the days before General Suleimani’s death, (CIA Director) Ms. Haspel had advised Mr. Trump that the threat the Iranian general presented was greater than the threat of Iran’s response if he was killed, according to current & former American officials”

Canada says Ukrainian Airlines 752 likely downed by Iranian missile. Analysis of video shows the same.

Satellite images show aftermath of strikes on Asad base.

Sadr, who has called on US to leave Iraq, says PMU should stand down.

Soleimani may have plotted attack on Embassy.

Iran speech showcases links to IRGC affiliates and also Hamas Afghans, PMU

NYT: “In the days before #Suleimani’s death, Gina Haspel had advised Trump that the threat the Iranian general presented was greater than the threat of #Iran’s response if he was killed, according to…officials.”

Iran’s Chief of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force claimed in a televised press conference on Thursday that “Iran had carried out a cyberattack against U.S. monitoring systems minutes after launching its ballistic missiles on Tuesday and disabled U.S. drones.”

High quality images shows damage to Al-Assad base, The Drive writes an analysis of it.

Reuters: Informants helped in Soleimani hit

January 10

Airport informants and overhead drones: How the US got Soleimani – NBC

Explosion on Iraq-Syria border. Israel accused of targeting pro-Iran groups. Also report indicated strike closer to Israel (AP).

January 11

Iran takes responsibility for downing Ukrainian Airliner and apologizes, Rouhani says will investigate this “great tragedy.”

Protests break out in Tehran, Rasht and Isfahan against government in wake of downing of plane, UK ambassador attends vigil and is briefly detained.

Trump tweets in Farsi saying human rights groups should be allowed to monitor events in Iran.

January 12

Report: Israeli intel helped US in Soleimani strike.

Balad air base hit with up to eight Katyusha rockets.

Explosions heard near Albukamal near IRGC base.

January 13

Alleged strikes on Iran sites near Albukamal. More reports here.

Trump authorized Soleimani strike seven months ago.

Sadr meets with Iraqi Shi’a militias in Qom. “On Monday, Sadr held a meeting with leaders of several armed groups within the PMF in the Iranian city of Qom. The meeting was also attended by Kataib Hezbollah, the Iraqi armed group whose 25 fighters were killed when the US launched air strikes against it on December 30, 2019, in response to the killing of a US civilian contractor two days earlier. It also included Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Shia armed group led by Qais al-Khazali, who was blacklisted by the US over his alleged role in killings of demonstrators in Iraq. Nasser al-Shammari, deputy secretary-general of the Hezbollah al-Naujabaa Brigades, another group that attended the meeting in Qom.”

January 14

Rocket falls near camp Taji, Iraq.

Effigy of UK ambassador burned in Iran.

Eli Lake: The memos the underpinned the Trump admin’s Iran disruption campaign.

Uk, France and Germany warn Iran 15 days to trigger “snapback’ sanctions.

Syrian media accuses Israel of airstrikes on T-4 base “A military source announced that our air defenses had responded to an air attack by Israeli aircraft on the T-4 airport in the eastern Homs countryside, from the direction of the Al-Tanf area on the Syrian-Iraqi border, and dropped a number of missiles.” Initial Syrian report claimed aggression came from direction of al-Tanf.

Hezbollah’s Nasrallah playing increasing role in Iraq, condemning Kurdish leadership and broker deal with Amiri. Nasrallah tasked with aiding PMU unity.

AFP: US lost “eyes in the sky” during Iran attack on US bases in Iraq due to presence of drone operators at Ayn al-Assad.

January 16

11 US troops were injured in Iran’s ballistic missile attack

January 17

Trump tweets in Farsi for the second time in a month slamming Iran’s regime. “The noble people of Iran, who love America, deserve a government that will help them achieve their dreams, rather than focusing on killing them for revenge. Instead of dragging Iran to ruin, Iran’s leaders must put aside the terrorists and magnify Iran again!”

Israel is only a decade from impenetrable air defense – Kochavi

January 19

Trump recounts killing of Soleimani, drones and military explaining the strike to him.

January 20

Mass protests in Baghdad and Iraq resume. Several killed, hundreds wounded.

Esmail Ghaani, new head of Quds Force, “They [US] hit him [#Soleimani] in a cowardly way, but with God’s grace and through endeavours of freedom-seekers around the world who want vengeance over his blood, we will hit his enemy in a manly fashion.”

WSJ: “Some U.S. officials “who backed the decision to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem #Soleimani on Jan. 3 argue that continuing to squeeze #Iran could weaken the government or even bring about a collapse in the near to short term…”

Three rockets fall near Green Zone in late evening, sirens sound.

January 21

Militias continue to target demonstrators in Iraq.

Mohamad Hejazi appointed deputy Quds Force commander, he was formerly linked to Iran precision guided weapons sent to Hezbollah

Iran Basij commander killed in Khuzestan

Hoshyar Zebari “Last night firing of 3 rockets at #USEmbassy compound in #BaghdadIZ is yet another provocation by unruly militia. There is a new bull game in #Iraq after the #American drone strike on 3rd Jan near #BaghdadBIAP airport. De-escalation is key to stability.”

Sunni politicians in Iraq grapple with reconstruction amid tensions

Rocket launchers found in Zafraniyeh, Baghdad, could have been used to target US

Kataib Hezbollah warn President Salih not to meet Trump in Davos

Iran reaches out to Gulf

January 22

Pro-Iran militias target media in Iraq

Israel FM tells Russia’s TASS about necessity of confronting Iran

Abu Ali Al-Basri, Badr member, appointed to fill Muhandis position in PMU

Lebanon gets new government ministers backed by Hezbollah, who are they, also what is Nasrallah doing meddling in Iraq

Trump meet KRG President Barzani at Davos and then meets Iraqi President Barham Salih. Salih say Iraq should not be a battleground for foreign forces.

Qais Khazali of AAH speaks about the need to unite Iraqis against US

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba condemns Iraqi President Barham Salih as a “separatist”

Kataib Hezbollah threatens President Salih for meeting Trump

Protesters from Nineveh call for PMU to leave at UN compound in Erbil

Protests continue in Baghdad and Karbala

Iran’s Hajizadeh admits that while he monitored US drones he was unable to track Soleimani because he didn’t know his schedule on January 2.

PMU commander concerned after airstrikes.

January 23

Reports indicate the US might send Patriots to Iraq.

Airstrike hits PMU near Al-Qaim, unclear who was hit though. Initial reports said it was Kataib Hezbollah unit.

January 24

34 US service members have been diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) resulting from Iranian missile attack.

Masive protest in Baghdad by Sadr and Badr against US presence.

Three French aid workers kidnapped in Iraq.

Department of Defense press briefing discusses 34 Americans hospitalized due to the Iranian missile attack earlier in the month. Also responds to questions about air defense.

Aircraft targeted Iranian militias near the Syrian-Iraqi border in the Deir Ezzor area of eastern Syria on Saturday, according to Deir Ezzor 24

Pompeo NPR interview slams Iran for supporting militias.

US Department of Defense still tight-lipped on whether air defense might be deployed to Iraq.

January 25

Sadr withdraws support from anti-government protests

January 26

Rockets hit near US embassy Baghdad.

Iraqi militias and security forces use live fire against them in Baghdad. But protests continue in Nasiriyah and Basra. Sadr threatens protesters

Zarif in Der Spiegel says Iran still willing to negotiate if US returns to deal, Zarif meets Oman foreign minister.

Islamic Jihad oppose Trump “deal of century”