High-stakes decision looms for Trump in showdown with Iran

President Donald Trump faces one of greatest tests of his presidency after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. It was Iran's most brazen direct assault on America since 1979 seizing of U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

strikes pushed Tehran and Washington perilously close to war, and put world's attention on Trump as he weighs wher to respond with more military force. president huddled with his national security advisers on Tuesday night, but offered immediate indication of wher he would retaliate. He said in a tweet that “All is well!” and anunced plans to address nation on Wednesday morning.

Iranian strikes came days after Trump authorized targeted killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force. Iran had pledged to retaliate, though its actions did t appear to result in any American casualties, according to a U.S. official. missiles targeted two bases — one in rrn Iraqi city in Irbil and or at Ain al-Asad in western Iraq.

A lack of U.S. casualties could give Trump an opening to de-escalate mounting tensions with Iran and pull nation back from brink of war. Trump, who is facing reelection at end of year, campaigned for president on a promise to keep United States from engaging in “endless war."

Still, Trump's rhetoric in recent days has been menacing. Just hours before Tuesday's missile strikes, president told reporters in Oval Office: "If Iran does anything that y shouldn't be doing, y're going to be suffering consequences, and very strongly."

Democrats called on Trump avoid a military escalation with Iran.

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, said administration needs to quickly “extricate us from what could lead into a full-fledged war with terrible casualties.” Engel said he feared situation ”spirals out of control."

fallout for Trump's order to kill Soleimani has been swift.

Iran anunced that it would longer be bound by 2015 nuclear agreement and vowed to retaliate against U.S., its allies and American interests. Iraq's parliament also voted to expel U.S. troops from Iraq, which would undermine efforts to fight Islamic State militants in region and strengn Iran's influence in Mideast.

counterattack by Iran came as Trump and his top advisers were under pressure to disclose more details about intelligence that led to American strike that killed

Trump said Tuesday that his decision saved American lives and that members of Congress would get a briefing on reasons for U.S. attack.

“y were planning something,” he said of Iranians.

So far, Trump and top national security officials have justified airstrike with general statements about threat posted by Soleimani, who commanded proxy forces outside Iran and was responsible for deaths of American troops in Iraq.

But details have been scarce.

“He's longer a monster. He's dead,” Trump said. “And that's a good thing for a lot of countries. He was planning a very big attack and a very bad attack for us and or people and we stopped him and I don't think anybody can complain about it.”

Soleimani was targeted while he was at an airport in Baghdad with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a veteran Iraqi militant who also was killed.

Trump said y weren't in Baghdad to discuss vacation plans or visit a “nice resort," but were re to talk over “bad business.”

lack of detail didn't sit well with Democrats, who recall how President George W. Bush justified his invasion of Iraq by accusing Saddam Hussein of having what turned out to be n-existent weapons of mass destruction. Lawmakers in recent days have been pressing for more details about why Trump ordered killing — a decision that previous administrations passed up because of fears it would unleash even more violence.

Soleimani traveled often and relatively openly, with visits to Baghdad more frequent in recent months. He also often showed up in Syria, including along border between Iraq and Syria.

Senate Mirity Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bob Menendez, top Democrat on Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have called on Trump to declassify written tification he sent to Congress after strike. tification was required under War Powers Resolution Act of 1973, which requires president to report to Congress when American forces are sent into hostile situations.

“ president must come to Congress and present clear and compelling intelligence as to why strike against Soleimani was absolutely necessary," Menendez said in a speech on Senate floor. “In wake of all its misleading statements we must make clear to administration that president by himself does t have authority to launch a war against Iran.”

Trump stressed that strike was in retaliation for Iranian attacks and that U.S. is prepared to attack again — “very strongly.” He also said that while he eventually wants to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, w is t time because it would allow Iran to gain a bigger foothold re.

Trump's top national security officials made several public appearances on Tuesday to furr defend strike.

“We had deep intelligence indicating re was active plotting to put American lives at risk,” and Iraqi lives too, said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Asked if threat was imminent in days or weeks, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said: “I think it’s more fair to say days, for sure.”

Esper said intelligence was precise — “razor thin.” He said top Republicans and Democrats in House and Senate plus chairmen and vice chairmen of intelligence committees in both chambers were getting a classified briefing Tuesday afteron on what led to decision to kill Soleimani. He said or lawmakers will be provided general details about attack.

He said Soleimani was in Baghdad to coordinate additional attacks against U.S. “To somehow suggest that he wasn’t a legitimate target, I think, is fanciful,” Esper said.

Democratic lawmakers were t yet convinced it was right decision.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called U.S. strike on Soleimani a mistake and said, “I have yet to see how killing this man will prevent Iran from posing an even greater threat against United States and our interests."