The US has started air strikes against Iranian-backed groups in Syria and Iraq, in response to a drone attack that targeted a US military base in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers and injured over 40.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that US forces carried out airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and their affiliated militia groups at 4:00 PM EST (9:00 PM GMT).
The operation targeted over 85 locations, utilizing numerous aircraft, including long-range bombers flown from the United States, and over 125 precision munitions. The targets included command and control operations centres, intelligence centres, rockets, missiles, drone storage sites, as well as logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups.
US President Joe Biden released a statement on the retaliatory attacks.
“This afternoon, at my direction, US military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack US forces,” he said.
“Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing.”
Biden said the US “does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world” but gave a warning.
“Let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.”
