US Launches Retaliatory Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria Following Deadly Drone Attack

WASHINGTON: In a significant escalation of tensions, the US military carried out retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian forces and Tehran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria. The strikes were in response to a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan, for which the United States held Iran-backed forces responsible.

The airstrikes, launched on Friday, targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported hitting over 85 targets, deploying more than 125 precision munitions, including long-range bombers flown from the United States. The targets included command and control centers, intelligence facilities, and storage sites for rockets, missiles, and drones used against US and coalition forces.

At least 18 pro-Iran fighters were reported killed in the strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The operation involved B-1 bombers flying from the United States and lasted about 30 minutes. The US government believes the strikes were successful, with more planned in the future.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the destruction of at least 26 major sites housing pro-Iranian groups in Syria, including weapons depots. In western Iraq, along the Syrian border, a weapons warehouse and a command center belonging to pro-Iranian groups were targeted, resulting in at least some injuries, as per Iraqi security sources.

This military action represents a significant escalation, according to analysts. However, doubts remain about its deterrent effect, considering past tit-for-tat strikes in the region. Iraq, which condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, was informed by the US prior to the operation.

US President Joe Biden emphasized that the response had begun and would continue at times and places of their choosing. He asserted that the United States does not seek conflict but made it clear that any harm to Americans would be met with a response.

The context for these strikes was a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers. The soldiers were honored in a solemn military ritual attended by President Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown.

This incident marks the first US military deaths from hostile fire in the Middle East since the October 7 Hamas surprise attack on Israel, triggering a significant Israeli assault on Gaza. The region has witnessed heightened tensions and violence, with frequent attacks on US and coalition troops. Iran-backed groups, opposing US support for Israel and calling for the withdrawal of American troops from the region, have claimed responsibility for many of these attacks. The situation adds complexity to an already volatile geopolitical landscape.