Since assuming office, US President Joe Biden has ordered retaliatory strikes against armed groups twice. In reaction to drone attacks against US people and installations in Iraq, the US has carried out another round of air operations against Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq and Syria, with the militias threatening retaliation.
The US military said in a statement on Sunday that it targeted operational and weapons storage sites in two locations in Syria and one in Iraq.
In reaction to drone attacks against US people and installations in Iraq, the US has carried out another round of air operations against Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq and Syria, with the militias threatening retaliation.
The US military said in a statement on Sunday that it targeted operational and weapons storage sites in two locations in Syria and one in Iraq.
It did not disclose whether anyone was killed or injured, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the United Kingdom, reported at least five fighters were killed and numerous others were injured.
According to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, one youngster was murdered and at least three others were injured.
The attacks were ordered by US President Joe Biden, marking the second time since taking office that he has ordered retaliatory attacks against Iran-backed militias. In February, Biden approved limited bombardment against a Syrian target in response to rocket attacks in Iraq.
“The United States took necessary, appropriate, and deliberate action designed to limit the risk of escalation – but also to send a clear and unambiguous deterrent message,” John Kirby, spokesman for the Pentagon, said in a statement.
Kirby said that the targets – two in Syria, one in Iraq – were selected because “these facilities are utilized by Iran-backed militias that are engaged in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against US personnel and facilities in Iraq”.
The Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada military factions were among the “several Iran-backed militia groups” that had used the targeted facilities, Kirby added.The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq as part of an international coalition fighting the remnants of ISIL (ISIS).
Since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 40 attacks in Iraq targeting US interests. The vast majority of the attacks were against logistical convoys with bombs, while 14 were rocket attacks.
Two US sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to the Reuters news agency, said Iran-backed militias have carried out at least five drone assaults against US and coalition personnel in Iraq since April.
According to a defence official, one of the locations hit by the US on Sunday was a facility that was used to launch and retrieve drones.
The air raids were carried out by F-15 and F-16 jet aircraft, and the pilots were believed to have returned safely.
The strikes come as Biden’s government considers whether to resurrect the JCPOA, a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Iran cannot be trusted, according to critics, who refer to the drone attacks as more proof that Iran and its proxies will never accept a US military presence in Iraq or Syria.
On Sunday, Biden and the White House also declined to comment on the attacks.
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