US Hit Terror Groups In Iraq
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD (Worthy News) – The United States military on Monday hit facilities of terror groups in Iraq in what U.S. Secretary of Defense LIoyd Austin called “necessary and proportionate strikes” after several American forces were injured in a Christmas Day attack on a U.S. airbase.
“At President [Joe] Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq,” Austin explained in a statement seen by Worthy News.
“These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias,” he added.
Austin noted that the attacks included a strike “by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on the Erbil Air Base earlier today,” Monday.
He said the U.S. military response was aimed to “disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible.”
Austin confirmed that Monday’s “attack led to three injuries to U.S. personnel, leaving one service member in critical condition.”
He added: “My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured today. 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.”
‘NOT SEEKING ESCALATION’
The defense secretary stressed that the U.S. does “not seek to escalate conflict in the region” already faced with the ongoing Hamas-Israel war.
“However, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities,” Austin stressed.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the president was “immediately briefed on the attack this morning, and he ordered the Department of Defense to prepare response options against those responsible.”
The U.S. military claimed there were no civilian causalities in the American strikes.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander, said, “These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks.”
He pledged: “We will always protect our forces.”
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