US launches airstrikes against militia groups in Syria and Iraq [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The Pentagon revealed that the US launched airstrikes against militant groups in Syria and Iraq after it endured a drone attack in a US base in Iraq.
• Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said that President Joe Biden commanded the attacks.
• Kirby said that the airstrikes were also retaliatory.

The Pentagon announced that the US fired back against Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria on Sunday by launching airstrikes following the drone attacks against US troops and facilities in Iraq.

In a statement, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said that President Joe Biden authorized the assaults: two strikes in Syria and one in Iraq located beside the border of the two nations.

“As demonstrated by this evening’s strikes, President Biden has been clear that he will act to protect US personnel,” Kirby said. “Given the ongoing series of attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting US interests in Iraq, the President directed further military action to disrupt and deter such attacks.”

Kirby noted that under international law, the US is justified to defend itself from assailants by launching defensive airstrikes. He also noted that Biden gave the go signal “to protect the US personnel in Iraq.” It was not known how many casualties have been reported following the attack.

Per Kirby, the striked locations were used by militia groups Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada for “operational and weapons” base.

“We are in Iraq at the invitation of the Government of Iraq for the sole purpose of assisting the Iraqi Security Forces in their efforts to defeat ISIS,” Kirby said in the statement, adding that “the United States took necessary, appropriate, and deliberate action designed to limit the risk of escalation — but also to send a clear and unambiguous deterrent message.”

“The strikes were both necessary to address the threat and appropriately limited in scope,” he continued.

The Pentagon also noted that the strikes were retaliatory in nature. Back in February, the Pentagon also launched airstrikes in Syria following a drone attack at a US base in Iraq. The airstrikes that occurred in February have boosted ISIS movement across the border.

The latest strikes came following the new administration of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. In response, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.) described the airstrikes and other threats as “targeted and proportional response.”

“Protecting the military heroes who defend our freedoms is a sacred priority,” Pelosi said, adding that the “Iran-backed militias utilizing these facilities have been engaged in attacks threatening U.S. service members, as well as our allies.”

“Congress looks forward to receiving and reviewing the formal notification of this operation under the War Powers Act and to receiving additional briefings from the Administration,” she continued.

Biden previously faced criticisms from a few House Democrats in the left wing as well as GOP lawmakers for bypassing House authority.

Source: New York Post