U.S. Embassy attack in Iran causes fears of war, thousand of US troops deployed

Major developments in the  the last 72 hours in the Middle East in the on-going conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Iran retaliated against  a U.S. air strike with a devastating missive to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on New Year's Eve.  No one died in the attack.  However, on Friday, the conflict intensified with the death of  and Iraqi general.  THe state department ordred all American to leave the area. Thousands of troops are being deployed to the region to stand ready for potential further Iranian aggression. . .

Iran has threatened "harsh revenge" and a "crushing response" in retaliation for the US take down.

SEC. OF STATE MIKE POMPEO said the US strike was necessary due to an imminent attack that could have cost American lives and said Pres. Trump acted decisively.

Pres. Trump is still on holiday at his Mar a Lago Resort in Florida, but plans to make a statement later today.New Year's "On December 31, 2019, the Embassy suspended public consular services, until further notice, as a result of damage done by Iranian-backed terrorist attacks on the Embassy compound," the State Department said in an update to its Iraq travel advisory on Wednesday. 
USA TODAY has a full report and photos of the resulting destruction.