US hits more than 85 targets
FOX News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin gives an update on “Your World” on the retaliation for the drone attack on U.S. military personnel in Jordan.
The White House stressed on Friday night that the United States “does not want war with Iran” and said retaliatory strikes in Syria and Iraq would “de-escalate” tensions and “bring an end” to attacks on the United States. He said it was aimed at military in this area.
The United States has launched retaliatory strikes against the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Quds Force and its affiliated militias and proxies on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria.
US launches airstrikes in Middle East after 3 soldiers killed
The airstrike comes after three American servicemen were killed at a US military base in Jordan last Sunday.
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby emphasized that the United States is not seeking conflict with Iran or the Middle East, but described the attacks that began Friday night as “not ending” tonight. did.
Kirby said the targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties and based on irrefutable evidence linking them to attacks on U.S. forces in the region, and before the attacks began. He added that the Iraqi government had been informed.
Mr. Kirby and Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II said the airstrikes began Friday but did not begin immediately because of the weather, adding that U.S. officials were “waiting for the weather to cooperate. ”, he said, calling Friday the “best opportunity.” ” Regarding conditions.
U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Press Secretary John Kirby speaks during his daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on January 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP) (Photo by: MANDEL NGAN/AFP) MANDEL NGAN/AFP) via Getty Images) (Mandel Gann/AFP via Getty Images)
“We’re really confident in the accuracy of these targets,” Sims said on a call with reporters. “We hit exactly what we were going to hit.”
Sims explained that by waiting for the right weather timing, the United States was able to avoid “unnecessary casualties.”
“Weather cleared today to allow us to carry out our attacks. As a result, we are very confident in the targets we struck today,” Sims said.
Asked whether the timing of the airstrike had anything to do with Friday’s transfer of the dignified bodies of three soldiers killed in an attack by Iranian-backed militias in Jordan to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. , Mr. Kirby answered, “No.”
President Biden and Jill Biden attend the dignified transfer of the bodies of three U.S. service members killed in a drone attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, February 2, 2024. Mrs. (Robert Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)
“It had nothing to do with the dignified transfer at Dover,” Kirby said.
Biden attends dignified transfer of fallen soldiers killed in Jordanian drone strike
But Kirby said the attack was intended to “send a signal,” and that signal was to those who “want to cause harm to the American people.”
“We don’t want a conflict with Iran,” Kirby said. “These targets were chosen to degrade and disrupt the capabilities of the IRGC and the groups they sponsor and support.”
Kirby said the “purpose” of the airstrike was to “prevent an attack” on U.S. military personnel in the area.
Fox News map showing locations of US attacks on Iranian proxies. (Fox News)
“It’s a signal that the attack should stop,” he continued. “These facilities were used by the IRGC and its proxy groups to carry out attacks against U.S. military personnel in the region.”
He added: “These responses began tonight, but they will not end tonight. There will be additional responses and additional actions, all designed to end these attacks. ” he added.
US military strikes at least 160 times in Middle East since mid-October, after Sunday’s drone strike
When asked, Kirby said, “We don’t want war with Iran.”
“If you are disabling an adversary who is trying to kill your troops and act against your interests in this region; , you de-escalate by default and that’s our approach here,” Kirby explained.
Mr Kirby, however, said he would not be “consulting about future operations”, but stressed that “further response measures will be taken in the coming days”.
“Today we confirmed the first set of reactions,” he said. “This is not the last set of responses you will see.”
Kirby reiterated that the United States “does not want to see any more attacks on U.S. forces or facilities in the region. We do not want to see any more attacks.”
“We want the attacks to stop,” he said. “I want you to stop now.”
There have been at least 160 attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East since mid-October.
President Biden has previously held Iran responsible for the latest attacks last week because it supplied the perpetrators with weapons, but also said he did not want to escalate tensions with the Islamic Republic.
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Centcom said the 85 targets included command and control operations, intelligence centers, paramilitary rockets, missiles, unmanned vehicle storage and supply chain facilities.
The troops killed in last weekend’s attack were Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46 years old. Special Kennedy Landon Sanders, 24 years old. and Spc. Breonna Alexandria Moffett, 23, all from Georgia;
