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The United States has launched airstrikes in eastern Syria, the first military action taken since Joe Biden became president.
The Thursday night attacks were in retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq on February 15 that killed a civilian contractor and wounded coalition troops, including Americans.
The targets were at a checkpoint on the Iraqi border and the Pentagon said “multiple facilities” used by Iranian-backed militant groups were “destroyed.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the facility was destroyed. Photo: AP
Senior Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said: “This provided military response was carried out in conjunction with diplomatic measures, including consultation with coalition partners.
“The operation sends an unequivocal message: President Biden will act to protect US and coalition personnel.
“At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to reduce the overall situation in eastern Syria and Iraq.”
No details were given on the casualties.
Reuters quoted an anonymous US official as saying the attacks were intended to send a signal that while the United States wanted to punish the militias, it did not want the situation to escalate into a major conflict.
The official also said that Mr. Biden was given a range of options and one of the more limited responses was chosen.
The February 15 attack on a US military base located at Erbil International Airport is being investigated by Iraq, Kirby said, adding: “At this time, we cannot give you some attribution as to who was behind these attacks, what groups, and I’m not going to go into the tactical details of every weapon used here. “
“Let the investigations be completed and concluded, and then when we have more to say, we will.”
A Shiite group, Saraya Awliya al Dam (Arabic for Guardians of the Blood Brigade) said it was behind that attack, but Iran denied any link to it.
Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal in 2018. Photo: AP
It comes as the United States tries to get Iran back into negotiations with a view to getting both countries back into the Iran nuclear deal.
The 2015 deal between Iran and six great powers limited Iran’s uranium enrichment activity to make it difficult for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons, an ambition Iran has long denied having, in exchange for easing sanctions.
But former US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, saying it was unilateral in favor of Iran and reimposed sanctions that have continued to cripple Iran’s economy.
Under Trump, tensions with Iran soared, reaching a high point after a US-led drone strike killed a senior Iranian general. Qassem Soleimani.
