The U.S. Strikes Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria at more than 85 targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the militias it backs.
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U.S. Strikes Iran-Linked Targets in Iraq and Syria
The United States unleashed a wave of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on Saturday, targeting more than 85 sites associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the militias it supports. The strikes, which involved long-range B-1 bombers flown from the U.S., were a response to a deadly attack on U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend by Iran-backed militants.
The U.S. military said the strikes hit command and control centers, rockets, missiles, drone storage facilities, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities. The strikes reportedly killed nearly 40 people, including fighters, medics, and civilians.
The strikes escalated a conflict that has engulfed the region since war broke out between Israel and Hamas after the Palestinian group assaulted Israel on Oct.7. Iran, which backs Hamas, has sought to avoid direct involvement in the war, but has supported groups that have attacked Israel and U.S. interests from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.
Iran and Iraq Condemn US Strikes
Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson of Iran’s foreign ministry, criticized the U.S. strikes as “a reckless and strategic blunder by the United States that will only lead to more tension and instability”. He said Iran will not start a war, but will “respond strongly” to any aggression.
Iraq’s government also denounced the U.S. strikes, saying they violated its sovereignty and harmed its security forces and civilians. Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, a state security force that includes Iran-backed groups, said 16 of its members were killed in the strikes. Iraq summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires in Baghdad to deliver a formal protest.
In Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the strikes killed 23 people who had been guarding the targeted locations. Iran’s ambassador in Damascus Hossein Akbari downplayed the impact of the strikes, saying they did not hit any Iran-linked targets and only aimed to “destroy Syria’s civil infrastructure”.
Hamas said the U.S. strikes were pouring “oil on the fire” and urged the international community to stop the U.S. aggression.
U.S. Vows More Action Against Iran and Its Proxies
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes were the first in a series of actions against the IRGC and its proxies. He also said, “This is the beginning of our reaction. We are not looking for conflict in the Middle East or elsewhere, but the president and I will not accept attacks on American forces.”
Biden said the U.S. response began on Saturday and will continue at times and places of its choosing. He said the U.S. strikes were justified and proportionate. He also said, “We will continue our response at the times and locations that we choose.“
The U.S. strikes came after U.S. troops were attacked over 160 times in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan since Oct. 7, usually with rockets and one-way attack drones. The U.S. has blamed Iran and its proxies for the attacks, which have killed and wounded several U.S. soldiers and allies.
U.S. officials have informed Reuters that the drone that caused the death of three U.S. soldiers and injured more than 40 others in Jordan last weekend was manufactured by Iran.
The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker, criticized Biden for not doing enough to deter Iran and taking too long to respond. He said the U.S. should target Iran’s nuclear facilities and impose more sanctions on the regime.
Armed groups in both Iraq, where there are about 2,500 U.S. troops, and Syria, where there are 900, receive assistance from Iranian advisers. The U.S. has said it does not want war with Iran but will defend its interests and allies in the region.
With inputs from Reuters
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