It was a huge relief when Michael Pregent (US advisor) speculated that the attack may have been a token retaliation, deliberately avoiding the US sections of the bases, and again when it was confirmed that nothing had hit anything American by accident.
FYI Yadda - despite this being highlighted as false previously:
They destroyed a US helicopter and damaged an MQ1C?
But you're right, it was a token retaliation, politically to be seen to be doing.
Thats a stretch... sure they gave advance warning etc.. but they still hit stuff - more reliant on the US getting their heads down and the attack being somewhat limited and expected.
Some more info for you - see this CNN article from today:
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/11/middleeast/iran-strike-al-asad-air-base-exclusive-intl/index.html
CNN said:United States troops at the Al-Asad air base in Iraq were aware that an Iranian attack was imminent, allowing them to take shelter two-and-a-half-hours before missiles struck on Wednesday, CNN has been told during an exclusive tour of the devastated site.
Most troops were either flown out of the base or sheltering in bunkers by 11:00 p.m. local time Tuesday -- shortly before the first of four volleys of missiles began at just after 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, officers said during the first tour by journalists of the air base.
[...]
The attack lasted around two hours, only targeting the US areas of the air base, which comprise around a quarter of the Iraqi base.
Officers called it a "miracle" that there were no casualties at the blasted site, with missiles landing just a few meters from bunkers, and some essential personnel remaining outside throughout.
So much for not targeting the US portions of the base - it was as pointed out previously more just that it was a limited attack and the US got their heads down... I'd assumed they'd at least not targeted accommodation given the limited nature of the attack but even that doesn't appear to be the case.