In a swift response to recent attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, the U.S. military carried out targeted strikes against two facilities in eastern Syria reportedly used by Iranian-backed groups. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that the United States does not seek conflict but finds these attacks unacceptable and in need of cessation. These retaliatory strikes, carried out by F-16s, targeted a weapons storage area and an ammunition storage area near Abu Kamal in Syria.
The backdrop for these actions includes a series of attacks, involving drones and rockets, against U.S. forces by Iranian-backed groups, with the Pentagon reporting at least 16 such incidents since October 17. Although the most recent attack in Erbil, Iraq, did not result in injuries, previous attacks left 19 U.S. service members with traumatic brain injuries and two others with minor injuries. President Biden issued a warning to the Iranian leadership, making it clear that continued aggression against U.S. troops would invite further responses. These developments have raised international concerns about the broader regional implications, especially against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
This represents the second round of retaliatory actions by the Biden administration this year aimed at deterring Iranian-backed militias. In March, precision air strikes were carried out in eastern Syria following an attack that resulted in the death of a U.S. contractor and injuries to multiple U.S. service members. The presence of approximately 900 U.S. troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq continues as part of the ongoing mission to combat ISIS.
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