In a response to the deadly drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members, the United States has commenced retaliatory strikes on multiple targets in Iraq and Syria. These strikes were conducted by manned and unmanned aircraft and targeted command and control headquarters of Iran-backed militants. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the strikes were carried out on more than 85 targets affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and militia groups.
On Sunday, a drone launched by militant groups backed by Iran’s IRGC killed three American soldiers at a U.S. military outpost in Jordan. This incident prompted President Joe Biden to authorize retaliatory strikes on facilities in Iraq and Syria used by the IRGC and affiliated militias to attack U.S. forces. The U.S. response began on February 2 and will continue at times and places determined by the U.S. military.
President Biden, in a statement, expressed his commitment to responding to any harm caused to Americans, stating, “If you harm an American, we will respond.” He emphasized that the United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world but will take necessary actions to defend its interests. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed this sentiment, affirming that the U.S. will not tolerate attacks on American forces and will hold the IRGC and affiliated militias accountable.
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CENTCOM revealed that the U.S. forces conducted the strikes using numerous aircraft, including two B1-B bombers, and deployed more than 125 precision munitions. The targets included command and control operations, intelligence centers, rockets, missiles, unmanned vehicle storages, and supply chain facilities associated with the IRGC and its affiliated militias. The selection of targets was based on irrefutable evidence connecting them to attacks on U.S. troops in the region.
The U.S. military emphasized its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties and ensured that the Iraqi government was informed before the strikes were launched. Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II expressed confidence in the precision of the strikes, stating, “We hit exactly what we meant to hit.” The U.S. military employed a tiered approach, indicating that the strikes would not be a single action but potentially multiple actions over a period of time.
The drone attack in Jordan resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members: Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, Spc. Kennedy Landon Sanders, and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett. President Biden held Iran responsible for the attack, as they supplied the weapons to the militants. However, he expressed his reluctance to escalate tensions in the Middle East.
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The U.S. response targeted the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias believed to be responsible for the drone strike. The U.S. military’s goal is to deter further attacks on American forces by holding these groups accountable. The National Security Council spokesperson emphasized that the U.S. response would be a tiered approach, indicating that multiple actions would be taken over time.
President Biden and his administration have repeatedly emphasized that they do not seek wider conflict in the Middle East. The United States aims to defend its interests and protect its forces, but it does not intend to escalate tensions. The U.S. government has engaged in backchannel communications with Iran to encourage the restraint of militant groups and prevent further attacks.
Despite the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria have targeted Iran-backed militias separate from the conflict. The U.S. military is determined to disrupt the activities of these groups and prevent them from posing a threat to American forces and interests in the region.
The U.S. retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria following the drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan demonstrate the country’s commitment to protecting American forces and deterring further attacks. These precise strikes targeted command and control headquarters of Iran-backed militia groups, aiming to disrupt their activities and hold them accountable for their actions. The U.S. government, under the leadership of President Biden, seeks to defend American interests without seeking wider conflict in the Middle East. By employing a tiered approach, the U.S. military aims to ensure the safety of its forces while minimizing civilian casualties.
