US President Donald Trump stated that the US will “beat the f***ing s***” out of Iran in retaliation for Tehran’s overnight launch of ballistic missiles towards US military bases in the region, in comments reportedly made to Fox News reporter Trey Yingst on Wednesday.
“We’ll be hitting them hard,” Trump continued, according to Yingst.
Trump described Iran’s strikes as a surprise attack, allegedly telling Yingst that US forces had mere minutes to intercept the incoming Iranian missiles.
He also confirmed to Yingst that joint US-Saudi Arabia strikes against Iran-backed Iraqi militias were coordinated with the Iraqi government.
In regard to the status of communication with Iranian leadership after the renewed back-and-forth hostilities, Trump told Yingst that they will allow lines of communication to stay open and “let them keep talking.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian state media claimed that the US struck in West Azerbaijan, Iran.
Iran’s state TV, citing an official, claimed that a US projectile hit Iran’s northwestern city of Piranshahr.
No casualties were reported.