The U.S. military’s air strikes on Monday in Iraq aimed to deter Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting attacks on United States personnel and facilities, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.
Quick Read
- U.S. Military Strikes in Iraq: President Joe Biden stated that the U.S. military’s air strikes in Iraq on Monday were a response to deter Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from attacking U.S. personnel and facilities.
- Retaliatory Nature of Strikes: The air strikes were a retaliation for a drone attack by Iran-aligned militants in Iraq, which critically injured one U.S. service member and wounded two others.
- Broader Regional Implications: This clash is part of the wider tensions in the Middle East, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
- Biden’s Statement to Congress: In a letter to Congress, Biden emphasized the strikes were meant to degrade and disrupt attacks against the U.S. and its partners, and to deter further attacks from Iran and Iran-backed groups.
- Iran-Aligned Groups’ Opposition: Groups in Iraq and Syria aligned with Iran oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza and hold the United States responsible due to its support for Israel.
- Casualties and Targets of the Strikes: The U.S. strikes in Iraq targeted facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah militants, with the U.S. military reporting likely casualties among the militants.
- U.S. Accusations Against Iran: The United States has accused Iran of being involved in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which Iran denies. The Houthis in Yemen have attacked commercial vessels linked to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
- Casualty Figures in Gaza: Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza have reported over 21,000 deaths due to Israel’s offensive following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
Reuters has the story:
Biden says US air strikes in Iraq aimed to deter Iran, militants from attacks
Newslooks- WASHINGTON, Dec 27 (Reuters) –
The U.S. military’s air strikes on Monday in Iraq aimed to deter Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting attacks on United States personnel and facilities, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
The U.S. military carried out retaliatory air strikes on Monday in Iraq after a drone attack earlier in the day by Iran-aligned militants that left one U.S. service member in critical condition and wounded two other U.S. personnel.
The back-and-forth clash was the latest demonstration of how the war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas risks rippling across the Middle East.
KEY QUOTES
“The strikes were intended to degrade and disrupt the ongoing series of attacks against the United States and our partners, and to deter Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on United States personnel and facilities,” Biden said in a letter on Wednesday to the top leaders of the U.S. Congress.
“The United States stands ready to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats or attacks.”
CONTEXT
Iran-aligned groups in Iraq and Syria oppose Israel’s campaign in Gaza and hold the United States responsible due to its support for Israel.
The U.S. strikes in Iraq likely killed “a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants” and destroyed facilities used by the group, the U.S. military said.
Washington has also said Iran was “deeply involved” in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Iran denies involvement in the attacks by the Houthis, who control much of Yemen including the capital and have since October attacked commercial vessels that they say have Israeli links, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Health officials in Gaza say over 21,000 people have died in Israel’s offensive after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.
