The US hits Iranian-backed militias in Syria after the Baghdad invasion

The strikes appeared to be limited in scope of work, which may increase the risk of escalation.

Biden’s decision to go on strike only in Syria and not in Iraq, at least for now, also gives the Iraqi government some breathing space as they conduct their own investigation on February . 15 attacks wounded Americans.

“At the helm of President Biden, U.S. military forces earlier in the night grounded airstrikes against infrastructure used by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria,” the Pentagon said. said John Kirby in a statement.

“President Biden will work to protect the workers of America and the Confederation. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that is focused on the situation. total in eastern Syria and Iraq, “Kirby said.

He also said that the strikes destroyed several facilities at a border control point used by several Iranian-backed militant groups, including Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).

There was no official comment from Syria on the strikes, but state-owned Ekhbariya TV reported that its reporter in Deir al-Zor said strikes had taken place at break of day against several targets near the border between Syria and Iraq.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision to strike was a signal that, while the United States wanted to punish the militias, they did not want to the situation would spin into greater conflict.

The official said Biden was given several options and one of the most limited responses was selected.

It was not immediately clear what damage had been done and whether there were any casualties from the U.S. strike.

Representative Michael McCaul, the leading Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the strikes were the right move.

“Responses like this are a necessary deterrent and a reminder to Iran, its agents, and our enemies around the world that attacks on U.S. interests will not be tolerated,” McCaul said.

Suzanne Maloney, from the think tank of the Brookings Institution, said the strikes showed Biden’s administration could negotiate with Iran on the nuclear deal while pushing back against the militia they had imposed. support.

“Good gloss with … Biden [administration] showing that the U.S. can walk and chew gum at the same time, “she said on Twitter.

The rocket attacks on U.S. positions in Iraq were carried out as Washington and Tehran look for a way back to the 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

It was unclear how, or at least, the strike could affect U.S. efforts to coax Iran back into a compromise on both sides resuming compliance with the agreement.

In February. 15 attacks, rockets hit a U.S. military base based at Erbil International Airport in the Kurdish region, killing one non-American contractor and injuring several American contractors and a U.S. service member.

Another salvo hit a host center for U.S. forces north of Baghdad days later, injuring at least one contractor.

Rockets hit the Baghdad Green Zone on Monday, which houses the U.S. Ambassador and other diplomatic missions.

Earlier this week, the Kata’ib Hezbollah group, one of Iraq’s leading militia groups, denied any involvement in the rocket attacks.

Some Western and Iraqi officials say the attacks, often claimed by lesser-known groups, are being carried out by militants with ties to Kata’ib Hezbollah as a way to crack down on Iranian alliances. harassing U.S. forces irresponsibly.

Since late 2019, the United States has staged high-profile strikes against Kata’ib Hezbollah militia group in Iraq and Syria in response to deadly rocket attacks against U.S.-led forces.

Under the Trump administration, escalation escalated tensions, culminating in the assassination of U.S. military leader Qasem Soleimani and an Iranian ballistic missile attack against U.S. forces in Iraq last year.