Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said President Biden directed airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in the Iraq-Syria border region in response to the unmanned aerial attacks in the current situation Sunday.
details: Kirby said US military forces launched “precision defensive air strikes” against facilities used by Iran-backed militias in the area on Sunday evening, stressing that the US strikes were legal and in self-defense.
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“The targets were chosen because these facilities are used by Iranian-backed militias that participate in drone attacks against US personnel and facilities in Iraq,” he added.
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“Specifically, the US strikes targeted operational and weapons storage facilities at two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq, both located near the border between the two countries. Several Iranian-backed militias, including Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’ have used these Accompanying “.
News leadership: Pentagon spokesman commander. Jessica McNulty said in an email statement that Iranian-backed militias “have carried out at least five unidirectional drone attacks against facilities used by US and coalition forces in Iraq since April in addition to ongoing missile attacks against US and coalition forces.”
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McNulty said it was too early to assess whether there were any casualties, and added that “the strikes were necessary, appropriate and a deliberate act aimed at reducing the risk of escalation.”
“Through these and other means, we seek to make clear to Iran and Iran-backed militias that there will be serious consequences if they continue to attack or arm, fund, and train militias that attack our people. We will take necessary and appropriate measures to defend the personnel, partners, and allies of the United States in the region.”
McNulty
From the note: Biden He said in February When he directed US military forces to strike Iranian-backed militias, he said he wanted to warn the Iranian government that it “cannot act with impunity.”
The Big Picture: The air strikes came at Tension rises Between the United States and Iran, the two countries are in talks to bring Tehran back into the 2015 nuclear deal.
what do you want to watch: Senators Will consider canceling The 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq after the House of Representatives backed the measure earlier this month.
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Biden declined to comment to reporters on the recent airstrikes after returning to the White House Sunday night from his Camp David weekend, telling reporters, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” CNN Notes.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with new details all the time.
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