President Biden authorized the U.S. military to conduct airstrikes near “facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups,” according to a White House spokesperson. The airstrike location was near the border between Iraq and Syria, and they have not gone unnoticed by the militias in the two countries.
The militias have spoken out against the United States, and they have made calls of revenge from the attack.
Details of the U.S. Airstrike
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby updated Americans on the airstrikes at the Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. These militias were using their facilities to launch attacks against American troops in Iraq. This is the second time the Biden Administration has utilized military action against militias in the region.
The United States fired airstrikes at three facilities on Sunday night. Two of the locations were in Syria, and one was in Iraq. The United States made it clear that the military acted in defense after the militias started the feud.
Kirby stated, “The United States took necessary, appropriate, and deliberate action designed to limit the risk of escalation, but also to send a clear and unambiguous deterrent message.”
The two Iran-backed militias that Kirby named were Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada. The airstrikes killed four men near the Syrian border, according to two Iraqi officials. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least seven militia members lost their lives.
The first strike hit a weapons storage facility, and the second landed on the border, but it did not hit any building. Seven deaths are substantial, and it’s likely higher because little information has been released. This has caused multiple cries for revenge against the United States.
Calls for Revenge
The Iran-backed Iraqi militias were quick to call out the United States regarding the attacks. They released a statement saying, “We … will avenge the blood of our righteous martyrs against the perpetrators of this heinous crime, and with God’s help, we will make the enemy taste the bitterness of revenge.”
Iraq’s military also spoke out against the United States. They said it was a violation of the country’s security, and it was unjust. The country does not want to escalate the situation, but they do not want the United States to take out their issues with the militias in their territory.
Iraq has rarely condemned United States airstrikes, so it’s apparent that the United States created enemies from this airstrike. Although, if the militias were hurting American troops, it was necessary.
Iran, who was accused of supporting the militias, also criticized President Biden and the United States. The first attack by the United States occurred in February at the Iraqi border against Iran-backed militias.
This narrative is not new, but the backlash has been magnified after the past two airstrikes. Kirby said that Biden “has been clear that he will act to protect U.S. personnel. Given the ongoing series of attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting U.S. interests in Iraq, the President directed further military action to disrupt and deter such attacks.”
The United States is closely monitoring the situation to deescalate future attacks against troops in the region.
Get REAL, UNBIASED coverage of the latest political news from our experts at World Politics News.
Follow us on Social Media to receive instant updates on the latest changes.