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CNN
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The United States carried out massive airstrikes on Friday against 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, possibly the latest in a series of major U.S. strikes against Iranian-backed militias attacking U.S. forces in the Middle East. It will be the beginning of
The retaliatory strike, which the White House said lasted 30 minutes and was successful, was carried out Sunday in retaliation for a drone attack by Iran-backed militants on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan, killing three U.S. service members and killing two. More than 1,000 people were injured. 40 others.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that the U.S. military response “will continue at a time and place of our choosing.”
“The United States does not want conflict in the Middle East or any other place in the world. But please know this to all those who seek to harm us, if you harm Americans, If you add, we will respond,” Biden said.
Friday’s attack was significantly more serious than previous attacks against Iranian-backed militias over the past few weeks, mainly focusing on weapons storage facilities and training facilities. But the administration is threading the needle. The government wants to deter and deter further attacks, but it also wants to avoid a full-scale conflict with Iran that could erupt in a region already roiled by the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza.
In a statement, U.S. Central Command confirmed that airstrikes were carried out “against the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and its affiliated militias” in Iraq and Syria.
“The US military attacked more than 85 targets with a large number of aircraft, including long-range bombers flown from the US. More than 125 precision munitions were used in the air strikes,” the statement said.
“The facilities attacked included command and control operations, centers, intelligence centers, rocket, missile, and unmanned aircraft storage facilities, as well as logistics facilities of the paramilitary groups and their sponsors, the Revolutionary Guards, who facilitated attacks on U.S. and allied forces. It included munitions supply chain facilities,” the statement added.
“We believe the airstrike was successful,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Kirby said the United States does not currently know how many fighters have been killed or injured. He added that the US military aircraft was now out of danger.
The attack came shortly after Biden attended a dignified transfer and met with families of soldiers killed in Jordan.
Defense officials told CNN that B-1 bombers, long-range heavy bombers that can deploy precision and non-precision weapons, were used in the operation.
1st Sergeant John Etheridge/U.S. Army/File
A June 2023 photo taken by the U.S. Air Force shows a B-1B Lancer aircraft demonstrating in Tintin, Morocco.
The Biden administration has indicated it may take additional action in the coming days. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that the U.S. response will be “multilayered.”
“We have the ability to respond as many times as the situation requires,” he said at a Pentagon press conference.
“They have a lot of capabilities. I have a lot more,” Austin added, referring to Iranian-backed militias.
CNN previously reported that Biden is increasing pressure to respond to the deaths of soldiers in a way that permanently halts militia attacks. Iranian-backed militants have targeted U.S. military facilities in Iraq and Syria more than 160 times since October, and several Republican lawmakers have called for the U.S. to strike directly inside Iran to send a clear message. Ta. But administration officials have made clear that any response will be proportionate to prevent further escalation of the situation in the region.
“We don’t want a war with Iran. We don’t want a broader conflict in the Middle East,” Kirby told CNN on Monday.
The White House said Wednesday that an umbrella group of extremists called the Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq was behind the drone attack in Jordan.
“We believe that the attack in Jordan was planned, financed and facilitated by an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance Movement of Iraq, which includes multiple groups, including Kataib Hezbollah,” Kirby said. Stated.
He stopped short of placing exact responsibility on Kataib Hezbollah, Iraq’s most powerful Iranian-backed militia, and said it was not the only group responsible for past attacks on U.S. military bases.
“This certainly has the hallmarks of something Kataib Hezbollah does,” he added, “and the attribution that our intelligence agencies are satisfied with is that this was carried out by an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance Movement of Iraq.” It means it was done.”
The U.S. military has carried out several strikes targeting Iranian proxies’ weapons depots in Iraq and Syria since October, but none of the attacks have been able to deter the insurgents, with 165 strikes across the region. More than 120 U.S. military personnel were injured.
Iran has spent years investing in these regional proxies, known informally as the “Axis of Resistance,” as Iran seeks to expand its influence in the Middle East and pressure the United States to leave the region. , provided funding, weapons, and training. region.
However, no other attacks by proxy groups since October have resulted in the deaths of U.S. military personnel. Sunday’s attack marked a serious escalation that Biden and his national security team believed forced a strong response.
Iran has repeatedly said it does not want conflict. On Friday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said his country had no intention of starting a war but would “react strongly” to bullying.
“We have said many times that we will not start wars. But if any repressive country or force tries to bully us, the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond strongly,” Hormozgan, southern Iran. He said this in a televised address to the state.
But militia groups are sending mixed messages.
In a possible sign of efforts to de-escalate tensions, Kataib Hezbollah on Tuesday announced a suspension of military operations against U.S. forces in the region.
Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement: “To avoid embarrassment for the Iraqi government, we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupying forces (US forces).” “We will continue to protect the people of Gaza in other ways, and we encourage the brave Mujahideen of the Free Hezbollah Brigades to: [carry out] Provide passive defense (temporarily) in the event of hostile U.S. action against them. ”
But on Friday, Akram al-Kaabi, the leader of the extremist group al-Nujaba, said he would continue attacking U.S. targets.
This story has been interrupted and will be updated.
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