U.S. airstrikes hit Iran-backed militias in Iraq after drone assault injures 3 American troops
Three U.S. troops had been injured in Iraq on Monday after a drone assault on an American air base by Iran-backed militias, Pentagon officers mentioned, resulting in a spherical of retaliatory airstrikes by U.S. forces.
In a press release late Monday evening, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned that President Biden ordered the strikes towards Kataib Hezbollah, a militia with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today,” Mr. Austin mentioned.
The Pentagon chief mentioned the strikes are “intended to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible” for the assault.
Three Americans had been injured. One service member is in important situation, officers mentioned.
“Let me be clear — the president and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests. There is no higher priority,” Mr. Austin mentioned.
He assist that the U.S. does “not seek to escalate conflict in the region” however is “fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities.”
Mr. Biden was briefed shortly after the preliminary Christmas morning assault in Iraq, White House officers mentioned, and he was offered with choices to strike again towards Kataib Hezbollah.
The president “directed strikes against three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities,” White National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson mentioned in a press release.
“The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue,” she mentioned.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees America’s army presence within the area, mentioned early indications present that the U.S. strikes “destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants.”
Monday’s airstrikes are the most recent in a string of clashes between U.S. troops within the Middle East and Iranian proxies, although not Iran itself.
Mr. Biden has come below intense stress to extra forcefully reply to the repeated, direct assaults on American personnel.
The Iran-backed militias now routinely goal American forces stationed in Iraq and Syria. The assaults have grown extra frequent within the months for the reason that Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a terrorist assault on Israel on Oct. 7.
Hamas, just like the militias focusing on U.S. forces within the area, is supported by Iran.
Separately, U.S. forces over the weekend shot down no less than 4 assault drones launched by Houthi rebels working in Yemen. The Houthis are additionally backed by Iran. The drones had been headed towards an American warship working within the Red Sea.
Before Monday’s assault in Iraq, assaults by Iran-backed militias had wounded no less than 21 U.S. service members and led to at least one American contractor dying from a cardiac incident whereas sheltering in place.
‘Tensions between the 2 nations at the moment are close to their highest level since early 2020, when a U.S. airstrike killed high Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
