European stocks closed slightly higher on Wednesday, reversing earlier losses suffered after Iran fired missiles on Iraqi airbases housing U.S. troops.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was around 0.1% lower at the closing bell, with travel and leisure stocks adding 0.6% to lead gains while food and beverages slipped 0.6%.

Markets in Europe got off to a rocky start after Tehran retaliated to Washington's killing of its top military commander, launching more than a dozen ballistic missiles targeted at U.S. military forces in Iraq. It was not immediately clear whether any U.S. service members were harmed in the attacks.

Shares of London-listed NMC Health plunged almost 16% after two investors sold their stakes in the company. The Abu Dhabi-based hospital chain has been embroiled in a protracted dispute with activist short-seller Muddy Waters over its accounting practices.

Source: CNBC