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Iran has launched strikes against US troops in Iraq.
If you're not sure exactly what's going on, or why this is happening, this is the perfect place to start.
Let's get you up to speed and answer five quick questions about the situation.
1. What has happened?
Iran has confirmed it launched "tens" of surface-to-surface missiles at two military bases — Al Asad and Erbil in Iraq — that house US troops.
The Pentagon says the bases came under fire from "at least a dozen ballistic missiles" and it was clear the missiles were launched from Iran.
It's currently unknown if there are any casualties from the revenge operation or the extent of the damage to the bases.
2. Why has this happened?
On January 4, the United States killed Iran's most powerful military general, Qassem Soleimani, by firing three missiles at Baghdad airport.
General Soleimani was the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force and responsible for many of the nation's proxy wars in the Middle East.
In a statement after the attack, the Pentagon said the strike was aimed at "deterring future Iranian attack plans" and it carried out the attack to "protect US personnel abroad".
For context, academic Ranj Alaaldin described the attack as "bigger than taking out Osama bin Laden".
On Tuesday millions of people attended funerals for General Soleimani, the first time Iran honoured a single person with a multi-city ceremony.
3. Is this actually the start of World War III?
It's far too early to tell what might happen next, despite #WorldWarThree trending on social media in the days since the US killed General Soleimani.
Journalist with Al Jazeera based in Doha, and a former global affairs and Indigenous affairs analyst for the ABC, Stan Grant, wrote that Iran was dwarfed by the United States by any measure.
"Its population is a quarter the size of America's, its economy is barely 2 per cent as large. Its outdated weapons are no match for the most powerful military force the world has ever known," he wrote.
There are many moving parts to this story that are yet to play out, but Grant writes that World War III will look vastly different to World War I and II.
"A look around the world tells us we may already be in it," he writes.
Get the full picture: You can read his full analysis of the situation here.
4. Are any Australians involved?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all Australian diplomatic personnel and all Australian Defence Force personnel in Iraq were safe.
Mr Morrison said the Australian Government was monitoring the situation as it unfolds.
Australia's National Security Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow, but Mr Morrison said it would meet earlier if needed.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he had received a briefing on the situation from the Prime Minister, and said Australians were "located very close to where the Americans are located in the area".
"They're just next door," Mr Albanese said.
5. What will happen next?
The frustrating answer is — we just don't know. And we can't do much but wait.
All eyes now turn back to the United States.
Mr Trump tweeted that he would make a statement "tomorrow morning" US time, which could be anytime from midnight AEDT onwards.
After the attack that killed General Soleimani, Mr Trump promised to strike back in "perhaps a disproportionate manner" if Iran retaliated.
"As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend US personnel, partners, and allies in the region," Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said immediately after the attack on the Al Asad airbase.
It's also unclear if Iran is planning more attacks on the US in Iraq or elsewhere, but Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif says the country does not seek "escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression".
Now you're up to speed, you can follow live updates to the situation in our blog.
Read more about the tensions between the US and Iran:
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, donald-trump, person, world-politics, iraq, united-states, iran-islamic-republic-of
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