The United States launched airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on Tuesday after insurgents attacked an Iraqi air base over the weekend, wounding several American soldiers, officials said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement: “Today, at the direction of President Biden, the U.S. military is conducting necessary and necessary operations against three facilities in Iraq used by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah and other Iranian-affiliated groups. We carried out an appropriate attack.”
“These precision strikes are a direct response to a series of escalating attacks against U.S. and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militias,” Austin added.
U.S. Central Command noted that Tuesday's attack hit Kataib Hezbollah's “headquarters, storage sites, and training sites for rocket, missile, and one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities.”
The retaliatory attack came after four American soldiers were examined for possible traumatic brain injuries following a ballistic missile and rocket attack on Iraq's al-Asad Air Base on Saturday. ABC News reported.
U.S. officials said they expect additional troops with symptoms of traumatic brain injury may be called into action. Iraqi military personnel were also reported to have been injured in the explosion.
The base, which houses American and other international troops, was the target of 15 rocket attacks, nearly all of which were intercepted by the military. Iraqi police told AFP..
However, two of the rockets hit the air base.
Austin warned that the United States wants to avoid escalation of the war beyond the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but will not tolerate attacks on its troops or bases without consequences.
“The President and I will not hesitate to take the necessary actions to protect their interests and ours,” he said in a statement. “We are ready to take further steps to protect our people and facilities.”
The US has 2,500 troops in Iraq and another 900 in Syria, advising local forces on how to quell the resurgence of Islamic State. Islamic State succeeded in occupying large swaths of territory in both countries until it was finally defeated in 2014.
The Islamic Resistance Movement of Iraq, a loose coalition of Iranian-backed militias opposed to U.S. support for Israel in its war with Hamas, claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack.
Since the war in Gaza began, Iranian proxy militias have attacked U.S. forces at least 59 times in Iraq and another 83 times in Syria in retaliation for U.S. support for Israel.
The United States has also recently clashed with the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group in Yemen and the Red Sea, with American and British soldiers launching fresh airstrikes on Monday.
The bombing raids targeted Houthi rebel strongholds, including drones, missile sites and even underground bunkers, marking the eighth U.S.-led offensive against the group in 11 days.
The purpose of the missile attack was to remove Houthi military material that could be used to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea. The US-designated terrorist group says the effort is in response to Israel's bombing of Gaza.
