Ο U.S. Army proceeded early Thursday evening, February 25, to airstrikes in an area in Syria where two organizations supported by the Iran paramilitary organizations, in the eastern part of the war-torn country, in response to the attacks with missiles against U.S. personnel and the U.S.-led international coalition in the region over the past two weeks, as well as threats against them, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.
«Specifically, the strikes destroyed many facilities to the point that border control used by various Iranian-backed paramilitary organizations, including the Kata'em Hezbollah and of Kataem Sayed al-Suhanda», the text continues.
«The company is sending a clear message: the (U.S.) president Joe Biden will take action to protect U.S. and coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a measured manner, with the aim of de-escalating the situation overall, both in eastern Syria and in Iraq», according to the statement signed by the Pentagon spokesperson, John Kirby.
Kirby insisted that the attacks took place «under President Biden’s direction» and were authorized not only in retaliation for recent attacks against U.S. and allied forces, but also to counter «ongoing threats to our personnel.».
According to a U.S. official, the area struck by the U.S. is believed to be used as an operational base arms smuggling from the civil defense units. According to the same source, the strikes were carried out to degrade these groups’ ability to carry out attacks and to send a message regarding the recent attacks, the official said.
As Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, intelligence gathered by Iraqi agencies was used.
According to Pentagon, it was a «proportionate military response,» and there had been prior consultation with U.S. allies regarding it.
A U.S. raid on Kata'ib Hezbollah facilities in Iraq on December 29, prompted a reaction from the Iraqi government, which denounced violations of its sovereignty. Days later, members of the paramilitary organization and other Iranian-backed militias attacked the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, setting fire to outbuildings and destroying property.
An attack involving 14 missiles on February 15 against Western coalition forces near Erbil International Airport, in Iraqi Kurdistan, killed one contractor and wounded nine others, including four American contractors and one member of the U.S. military. Psaki had stated at the time that President Biden and his administration «reserve the right to respond in a manner and at a time of our choosing,» warning that «we will respond in a manner that fits our timeline and using a combination of tools, both visible and invisible.».
Over the weekend, at least four rockets struck the Balad Air Base north of Baghdad, where a U.S. defense contractor is working on Iraqi fighter jets.
Last Monday, two rockets landed in Baghdad's international zone, where many foreign embassies are located. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
The attacks could complicate talks on Iran's nuclear program
The U.S. attacks come as Washington and Tehran are taking positions on restarting negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program, potentially complicating an already fragile process.
«We have stated in the past that we will hold Iran responsible for the actions of its proxies who attack Americans,» the State Department spokesperson said on Monday Ned Pier, noting that «weapons manufactured in Iran or supplied by Iran have been used in many of these attacks.».
Earlier this week, the White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki, He had stated that the U.S. holds Iran responsible for the actions of its representatives.
The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saidit Katibzadeh, denied any connection to the attacks. «These rumors are strongly rejected, and the attempt to attribute them to Iran is also strongly condemned,» according to a statement by Katibzadeh reported by Iran’s official news agency Mehr on February 16.
«A handful» of militants were killed in the attacks, a U.S. official told CNN.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that at least 17 people have been killed.
According to the director of the UK-based NGO, the Rami Abdel Rahman, «The strikes destroyed three trucks carrying ammunition (…). There are many dead. At least 17 fighters were killed, according to a preliminary tally, all of whom were members of the Hasad al-Saabi».
Hasd al-Shaabi, a powerful coalition of paramilitary groups aligned with Iran, is formally part of the Iraqi armed forces.
