By the newspaper
04 Feb 2024, 21:09 PM EST
In a decisive military operation, the United States carried out a comprehensive series of airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, effectively hitting 84 of 85 designated targets.
According to US defense officials, these attacks targeting facilities and weapons used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed militias are a response to a deadly drone attack in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three members of the American service.
According to CNN, the targeted airstrikes focused on a variety of militant assets, including command and control centers, intelligence centers and storage facilities for rockets, missiles and drones.
The operation was characterized by its precision, with officials reporting that all but one target was destroyed or functionally damaged. Importantly, preliminary assessments indicate that there were no Iranian casualties, underscoring the precision of the attacks.
The Biden administration’s strategic response
President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters, emphasized the effectiveness of these attacks in disrupting the operational capabilities of militant groups in the region.
This operation marks the first simultaneous US military action in Syria and Iraq, reflecting a robust approach to countering threats.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan echoed the President’s comments, indicating that these attacks are just the beginning of a sustained response to threats posed by Iranian-backed militias.
Following the attacks, only one retaliatory attack against US forces, targeting the Conoco oil fields, has been reported, with no injuries or damage.
This minimal response further demonstrates the strategic impact of the US operation in deterring future aggression against US personnel and interests in the region.
As the United States continues to evaluate the results of these attacks, the clear message to adversaries is a commitment to defending its personnel and interests abroad.
Furthermore, it is worth remembering that the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) has been an area of cooperation, but also of tension between the United States and Iraq. While US forces have played a crucial role in helping Iraq combat ISIS, the question of a long-term US military presence in Iraq remains controversial.
Many Iraqis express a desire for greater sovereignty and control over their internal affairs, questioning the need and intent for the continued US presence in the region.
Iraq’s domestic politics also reflect divisions over how to handle the relationship with the United States, with some factions pushing for a more independent approach and others valuing the security and stability that partnership with the United States can provide.
Keep reading:
· Pro-Iran militias demand US troops withdraw from Iraq
· Iran accuses the United States and the United Kingdom of fomenting chaos in the Middle East after those in Yemen
· The US insists that it warned Iraq before the bombings in retaliation for the death of US soldiers in Jordan