In reaction to several attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and Syria that resulted in the injuries of three U.S. soldiers, U.S. military forces carried out strikes on three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq on Monday.
As directed by the U.S. At 8:45 p.m., U.S. military airstrikes against Iraqi infrastructure utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliates were directed towards Central Command (CENTCOM). EST on December 25.
According to the White House National Security Council (NSC), earlier in the day, a one-way drone targeted an American base in Erbil, Iraq, where American soldiers are stationed, injuring U.S. personnel.
Amer. President Joe Biden gave the order for the retaliatory strikes, according to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in reaction to a string of assaults on American forces in Syria and Iraq carried out by "Iranian-sponsored militias."
“Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq,” Mr. Austin said in a statement.
“These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today, and intended to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible.”
CENTCOM said that early assessments showed that the attacks effectively destroyed the targeted installations and probably caused casualties among Kataib Hezbollah.
U.S. "These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of Central Command, in a statement. Our forces will always be protected.
Earlier in the day, Iranian-sponsored Kataib Hezbollah terrorists and their affiliates attacked U.S. forces at Erbil Air Base. The attacks injured multiple U.S. servicemen, one of which was a service member who was in serious condition. Mr. Austin said, "My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured today," expressing his solidarity.
The statement emphasized the overall strategic objective of reducing the danger posed by Iranian-sponsored militias in the area but did not go into specifics on the sites or methodology of the strikes.
The U.S. administration claims that these measures were done in self-defense and in reaction to many provocations in an effort to make it apparent that harming American soldiers will have dire consequences.
President Biden was informed about the incident on Monday morning, according to the White House National Security Council, and he gave the Pentagon instructions to plan a retaliation strategy against the perpetrators.
“Those options were then presented to the President during a call this afternoon with Secretary of Defense Austin and members of the President’s national security team,” NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
Ms. Watson said President Biden ordered the strikes during that call against three locations used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups “focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities.”
“The President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way,” she added. “The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue.
Mr. Austin reiterated that he and the president “will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests.”
“There is no higher priority. While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities,” he added.
