In recent months, militia groups backed by Iran have launched many attacks on American troops and outposts. They started after a terrorist strike in Israel killed around 1,200 people and sparked the Israeli war against Hamas. Retaliatory strikes have been launched by the United States.
An Iraqi insurgent group attacked the US Erbil Air Base with a drone on Christmas Day, wounding three soldiers and gravely injuring a fourth. Three days prior to the strike, a rocket had struck the US Embassy in Baghdad. In response to the assault, President Joe Biden was informed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who then directed retaliatory strikes on three targets. Locations frequented by militant groups like Kataib Hezbollah were among the targeted.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) told the press that they “likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants.”
There have been a minimum of ninety-two assaults on US bases in Iraq and Syria since the Israeli war started on October 7. These organizations say they are striking back at the United States for its alleged backing of Israel and its ongoing military involvement in Iraq and Syria.
Prompted by parties backed by Iran to seize power, Iraq’s prime minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani denounced the US strikes as an affront to Iraq’s independence. The militants responsible for the assaults on US forces were to be pursued by him and the government.
It was reported by the Associated Press. After speaking with the prime minister, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his belief in Iraq’s ability to take additional measures to prevent the attacks and expressed his expectation that the government will do so. There will be “harsh consequences” if Iraq does not intervene to halt the attacks, according to CIA Director William Burns, who has previously warned Al Sudani.
The White House issued a statement saying Biden “places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way.”
