The United States military launched airstrikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and their supported militias.
The US move comes in retaliation for a drone attack that claimed the lives of three US soldiers at a remote base in Jordan. President Joe Biden had vowed to respond to the attack, carried out by Iran-backed militants.
The strikes, not targeting locations within Iran, aimed at command and control centres, rockets, missiles, and drone storage facilities. The US military statement emphasised hitting logistics and munition supply chain facilities, employing over 125 munitions in the process.
Syrian state media reported casualties and injuries resulting from what they termed "American aggression" on sites in Syria's desert areas and the Syrian-Iraqi border.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that six members of a pro-Iran militia group were killed in eastern Syria during these strikes believed to be executed by the United States. The targeted areas include the eastern Deir Ezzor province, with four rounds of raids focusing on sites housing Iran-backed groups. Notably, three strikes were directed at al-Mayadeen, while one targeted Albu Kamal near the Iraqi border.
The US retaliation took place just hours after President Biden and Pentagon leaders paid respects to the remains of the fallen soldiers returning to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The drone attack in Jordan marked the first deadly strike against US troops since the Israel-Hamas conflict in October. The US had attributed the drone's origin to Iran, saying it was not seeking war but aimed to respond to aggression.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a pre-strike statement, asserted Iran's reluctance to initiate war but promised a strong response to any bullying.
The events surrounding the retaliation highlight the escalating tensions in the Middle East, aggravated by the prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict. The Revolutionary Guards' shift in strategy, reducing the deployment of senior officers in Syria and relying more on allied militias, underscores the volatile nature of the region.
In a somber ceremony at a Delaware air base, President Biden witnessed the dignified transfer of the fallen soldiers, William Rivers, Kennedy Sanders, and Breonna Moffett. The White House attributes the attack to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq militia.
"In the face of aggression, we respond resolutely to protect our forces and interests in the region," said the US military spokesperson in response to the strikes.
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