U.S. carried out series of strikes on militant bases in Iraq
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (photo: Getty Images)
The U.S. Armed Forces have conducted a series of strikes targeting three facilities used by the militant group Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq, announces Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
"Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq. These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias," stated the Pentagon chief.
He emphasized that the U.S. does not seek an escalation of the conflict in the region but is prepared to take further action to protect American citizens.
What preceded this
American servicemen suffered minor injuries, and an Iraqi security forces member was seriously wounded in an attack on the Iraqi airbase Ain al-Asad on January 20. It is noted that the strike was carried out using ballistic weaponry.
Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in October of last year, U.S. military personnel have faced attacks at least 58 times in Iraq and 83 times in Syria from Iran-backed militants, typically involving rockets and drones.
