The United States initiated an airstrike on Friday against Iran-affiliated groups in Syria and Iraq in response to a drone attack on a military base in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers last weekend. Reports indicate that at least 16 individuals, including civilians, lost their lives in the bombings, and 25 others sustained injuries, as confirmed by the Iraqi government.
President Joe Biden declared, “Let it be known to all those intending harm: if you cause harm to an American, we will retaliate. Our response began today and will continue at our chosen times and locations.”
U.S. forces executed airstrikes targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force and associated militia groups at midnight local time (21:00 GMT), according to the U.S. Central Command. The strikes targeted over 85 sites, encompassing command and control facilities, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, drone storage locations, and logistical and ammunition supply chain installations of militia groups. The operation involved various aircraft, including U.S. long-range bombers, deploying over 125 precision munitions, as stated by the unified command.
The airstrikes have been characterized as a “violation” of Iraqi sovereignty, with General Yehia Rasool, spokesperson for the Iraqi Prime Minister, cautioning of “disastrous consequences for Iraq’s security and stability,” as reported by AFP. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the U.S. attacks, asserting that they once again underscore the threat posed by U.S. military forces to international peace and security, exacerbating regional conflict, according to the Sana news agency.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby emphasized that the selected targets aimed to minimize civilian casualties and were chosen based on “clear and irrefutable evidence of their connection to attacks against U.S. personnel in the region.”
