In response to attacks on American and allied forces in the Middle East region, Washington has repeatedly struck sites used by Iran and its proxies in Iraq and Syria. Attacks in the region have increased since October 7, when the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas began.
“U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataeb Hezbollah and its affiliated groups in Iraq,” L. Austin said in a statement.
“These precision strikes are in response to attacks by Iranian-backed militias against US personnel in Iraq and Syria, including an attack on the Arbil Air Force Base by the Iranian-linked Kataeb Hezbollah and its affiliates […]”, added the head of the Pentagon.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement that three U.S. service members were wounded, one of them seriously, in the attack mentioned by L. Austin.
The statement noted that US President Joe Biden (Joe Biden) was informed of the attack in a conversation with L. Austin and other national security officials and instructed the Department of Defense to take retaliatory action.
Later on Tuesday, Iraqi security sources said at least one member of a pro-Iranian group was killed and 24 wounded in strikes on three Iraqi facilities.
According to an Iraqi interior ministry official, the strikes targeted a facility of the Hashed al-Shaabi coalition of militias in the central city of Hilla.
He said one person was killed and 20 wounded, while a second strike in the southern Wasit province injured four others.
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2024-07-22 15:34:46
