Screen image via Fox News/YouTube shows over 100 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since the start of the October 7 Hamas war on Israel, December 24, 2023.
Published December 26, 2023
The U.S. retaliated against Iran-backed terror groups in Iraq Monday night (early Tuesday local time) after a drone attack on the Al-Harir airbase near the civilian airport in the northern Iraq city of Erbil earlier Monday injured three U.S. personnel, including one critically injured service member according to a statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. U.S. Central Command also issued a statement saying indications are that several terrorists were killed in the retaliatory airstrikes.
Video of damage from one of the U.S. airstrikes posted by reporter Steven Nabil, “One of the locations targeted by the U.S two hours ago in Hilla, Babel.”
Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Strikes in Iraq
Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq. These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today, and intended to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible.
Today’s attack led to three injuries to U.S. personnel, leaving one service member in critical condition. 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. While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities.
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SOURCE: www.thegatewaypundit.com
RELATED: Three U.S. service members injured in Kataib Hezbollah terrorist attack, Biden launches strikes
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin announced that President Biden directed to launch strikes against Kataib Hezbollah terrorists after they attacked U.S. personnel in Iraq, critically injuring one.
Published December 26, 2023
Three American military personnel were injured during an attack by Kataib Hezbollah terrorists in Iraq on Christmas Day, including one U.S. servicemember who was critically wounded.
The announcement was made in a statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The official explained that the U.S. military quickly retaliated against the fighters after the attack.
“Today, at President 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. “These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today, and intended to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible.”
“Today’s attack led to three injuries to U.S. personnel, leaving one service member in critical condition,” the statement added. “My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured.”
Austin said that he and President Biden “will not hesitate” to take action to protect American troops in the future.
“There is no higher priority,” Austin continued. “While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities.”
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SOURCE: www.foxnews.com
RELATED: Baghdad condemns US strike on Iraqi military positions
Published December 26, 2023
US airstrikes targeting a pro-Iranian group in Iraq on Tuesday claimed at least one life, drawing an angry response from Baghdad as regional tensions spike amid the Israel-Hamas war.
The United States has repeatedly targeted sites used by Iran and its proxy forces in Iraq and Syria in response to dozens of attacks on American and allied forces in the region since the October 7 outbreak of the war.
Iraq said the latest US strikes killed one member of the security forces and wounded 18 other people, including civilians.
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In a statement, it warned that such attacks “infringe upon Iraq’s sovereignty and are deemed unacceptable under any circumstances or justification.”
“Iraqi military sites were targeted by the American side justifying the act as a response,” the Iraqi government said, adding it “resulted in the martyrdom of one service member and the injury of 18 others, including civilians.”
“This constitutes a clear hostile act.”
“It runs counter to the pursuit of enduring mutual interests in establishing security and stability, and it opposes the declared intention of the American side to enhance relations with Iraq.”
Questioned by AFP, an official in Iraq’s interior ministry said a strike had targeted a Hashed al-Shaabi site in Hilla, the capital of Babylon province.
One person was killed and 20 others wounded, the official said, giving a higher injured toll than the government.
Four others were wounded in a second strike in Wassit province. The casualty toll was confirmed by security sources in both Babylon and Wassit provinces.
‘Proportionate strikes’
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier American forces had carried out strikes on three sites used by pro-Iran groups in Iraq in response to a series of attacks on US personnel.
“US military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataeb Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq,” Austin said in a statement.
The Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, forms part of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of former paramilitary forces that are now integrated into Iraq’s regular armed forces.
The group was designated a “terrorist organization” by the US State Department in 2009.
“These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataeb Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base” on Monday, Austin said.
That attack wounded three US military personnel, one critically, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
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SOURCE: www.english.alarabiya.net
