“These precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups.”
On Thursday night, US fighter jets launched airstrikes against facilities in Syria that are used by Iran, the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism and one of its terrorist proxy groups.
The strikes followed US forces in Iraq and Syria being attacked this week by Iranian-backed Islamic terrorists.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement, “US military forces conducted self-defense strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups.”
He added, “These precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17.”
According to Austin, 21 US servicemembers have been injured by attacks from Iranian-backed terrorist proxy groups throughout the Middle East. 19 of the soldiers have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries and one contractor died from a heart attack that he suffered during one of the attacks.
Austin continued, “The United States will not tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests. The United States does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against US forces are unacceptable and must stop.”
“Iran wants to hide its hand and deny its role in these attacks against our forces. We will not let them. If attacks by Iran’s proxies against U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people.”
“These narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense were intended solely to protect and defend U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. We continue to urge all state and non-state entities not to take action that would escalate into a broader regional conflict.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said earlier on Thursday, "US efforts in the Middle East remain focused on supporting Israel's defense needs as the nation battles Hamas terrorists in Gaza, deterring other actors who seek to use the Hamas war on Israel as a pretext to expand the conflict and to ensure force protection for U.S. forces serving in the region. Approximately 900 US troops are in the process of deploying to the US Central Command area of operations." This is in addition to the air craft carriers that were sent to the region.
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