President Biden ordered retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq Monday after three US soldiers were wounded – one critically – in a drone attack by Iran-backed terrorists on an American base earlier in the day, the White House confirmed.
US forces carried out the attack around 8:45pm EST, likely killing “a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants” and destroying various facilities used by the group, General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, said in a statement.
“This attack aims to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks,” Kurilla said, adding, “We will always protect our forces.”
A one-way drone strike by the militant group hit a US base in Erbil, Iraq, on Monday, killing three US personnel, officials said.
The identity of the seriously injured US service member has not been released and the extent of the other injuries is unclear.
“My prayers are with the brave Americans who were wounded,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
The US military carried out retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq after three soldiers were wounded in an attack by Iranian-allied militants. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo/File Photo
Biden was “immediately” briefed on the attack and told the Pentagon to “provide options against those responsible,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.
After mulling over his options, Biden called Austin and ordered an airstrike.
Additional details about the operation were not immediately available.
“The President has placed no higher priority than the protection of American personnel who serve in harm’s way. The United States will act at the time and in the manner we choose if these attacks continue,” Watson said.
US bases and assets in the Middle East have come under attack by Iran-allied militias in recent weeks over Washington’s support for Israel in the fight against Hamas in Gaza since the war broke out in October.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
