United States: The US has launched strikes on forces aligned with Iran in Iraq in response to a drone attack that left three US service members critically injured, according to the White House.
According to a statement released by US National Security Council spokesperson, Ms. Adrienne Watson, US President, Mr. Joe Biden, gave the order to strike three locations in Iraq that were used by Kataeb Hezbollah and related organisations. The strikes “focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities,” according to Ms. Watson.
“The President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way. The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue,” Ms. Watson added.
As stated by US Defence Secretary, Mr. Lloyd Austin, the goal of the “necessary and proportionate” strikes was to “disrupt and degrade” the capabilities of groups aligned with Iran that have attacked US personnel, including a drone attack on the Erbil Air Base in the past week.
“Today’s attack led to three injuries to US personnel, leaving one service member in critical condition. My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured today,” the US Defence Secretary said.
“And let me be clear – the President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests. There is no higher priority,” Mr. Austin observed.
Although no civilians were killed, the US Central Command stated that preliminary assessments showed the strikes destroyed the targeted facilities and probably killed several Kataeb Hezbollah fighters.
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