Iran began what it called its revenge on the US late Jan. 7, firing ballistic missiles at two bases inside Iraq hosting US personnel with unknown casualties and damage. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter after the attack saying Iran "took and concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens and senior officials were launched." President Donald Trump also took to Twitter following the strikes saying, "All is well! ... Assessment of casualties and damages taking place now. So far, so good!"

A leading congressional voice on cybersecurity said Jan. 7 the federal government is taking the right steps to prepare for a possible Iranian cyberattack in retaliation for Quds Force commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani’s death. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) discussed their upcoming final report from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a bipartisan group of members of Congress and the executive branch who will unveil dozens of recommendations to make the public and private sectors more cybersecure.

SpaceX on Jan. 6 sent 60 Starlink broadband Internet satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., marking the Space Force’s first launch since the service was created in December. This is the third batch of Starlink satellites sent into space so far, totaling 180 on orbit. SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket carried the payloads.

Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced activated the territory’s National Guard on Jan. 7 in response to a series of earthquakes that have rocked the island for days and taken at least one life, according to the Puerto Rico National Guard. The PRNG has helicopters, cargo vehicles, and manpower at the ready to evacuate citizens as needed, spokesman Lt. Col. Paul Dahlen added in a statement shared with Air Force Magazine.