A White House spokesman said Thursday that that United States would respond at a “time of our choosing and a manner of our choosing” to a recent spate of attacks the U.S. says has been carried out by Iranian-backed groups against U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East.
Quick Read:
White House Statement:
- A White House spokesman announced on Thursday that the United States would respond to recent attacks by Iranian-backed groups against U.S. troops in the Middle East.
- The response would occur “at a time of our choosing and in a manner of our choosing.”
President Biden’s Warning:
- President Joe Biden warned Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directly, stating that the U.S. would respond if Iran or its proxies continued to attack U.S. troops.
- These attacks on U.S. troops had increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
Details of the Warning:
- President Biden issued this warning during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House.
- He stated, “My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond. And he should be prepared.”
- When asked for further details on how the message was delivered to Khamenei, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to elaborate.
Attack on U.S. Troops in Iraq:
- An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq claimed responsibility for an attack on a base housing U.S. troops in northern Iraq.
- The attack was carried out using two suicide drones against the “American occupation base” near the airport of the city of Erbil.
- The Islamic Resistance, an umbrella group for several Iran-backed militias, made this claim, but provided no further details.
- There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military.
Series of Attacks:
- Over the past week, there have been more than a dozen attacks on U.S. military facilities in Iraq and Syria.
- Most of these attacks were claimed by the same group, which cited retaliation against America’s support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
The Associated Press has the story:
WH: US to respond to attacks on troops in Mideast at time ‘of our choosing’
Newslooks- WASHINGTON
A White House spokesman said Thursday that that United States would respond at a “time of our choosing and a manner of our choosing” to a recent spate of attacks the U.S. says has been carried out by Iranian-backed groups against U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East.
The blunt warning from White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby came a day after President Joe Biden said Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been directly warned that the U.S. would respond if Iran or its proxies continued to attack U.S. troops. Attacks on U.S. troops in the region have increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, Biden said: “My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond. And he should be prepared.”
Asked on Thursday to provide further details on how that message was delivered to Khamenei, Kirby declined to elaborate.
IRAQI MILITIA SAYS IT ATTACKED NORTHERN IRAQ BASE HOUSING US TROOPS
BAGHDAD — An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq claims that it has carried out an attack with two suicide drones against a base housing U.S. troops in northern Iraq.
The Islamic Resistance, an umbrella group for several Iran-backed militias, said in a statement that its fighters attacked on Thursday the “American occupation base” near the airport of the city of Erbil with two drones that directly hit their targets.
It gave no further details and there was no immediate comment from the U.S. military.
The past week has seen a spate of more than a dozen attacks on U.S. military facilities in Iraq and in Syria — most of them claimed by the same group, which has said it is retaliating against America’s backing of Israel in its war with Hamas.
