US hits Iraq militia sites and anti-ship missiles in Yemen as fight with Iranian proxies intensifies
WASHINGTON– The US military carried out airstrikes on three facilities in Iraq and two anti-ship missiles in Yemen, targeting Iranian-backed militias that have been attacking US personnel and ships in the region. The strikes were aimed at preventing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas from escalating into a wider war.
The airstrikes in Iraq were directed by President Joe Biden and hit facilities used by the Kataib Hezbollah militia and other Iran-affiliated groups. The targeted sites were located in Jurf al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad, as well as al-Qaim and another undisclosed location in western Iraq.
According to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, these precision strikes were a direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias. However, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani criticized the airstrikes, stating that they violated Iraq’s sovereignty and contributed to an irresponsible escalation. Iraq considers the strikes hostile acts and is taking measures to protect its citizens.
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of armed mostly Shiite groups nominally under Iraqi military authority, reported that one fighter was killed and two others were wounded in the strike near the Syrian border. Material damage was also caused by the strike south of Baghdad.
In addition to the strikes in Iraq, the US Central Command also targeted two anti-ship missiles operated by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The missiles were being prepared for launch and posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region.
The conflict with Iranian proxies in both Iraq and Yemen has witnessed an increase in attacks and counterstrikes in recent days. The US airstrikes on Kataib Hezbollah sites in Iraq came shortly after the militia launched two attack drones at the al-Asad Air Base, resulting in injuries to US service members and infrastructure damage. This followed a major attack by the militia on the air base, involving multiple ballistic missiles.
The Houthi missile launch sites in Yemen were targeted in response to a joint operation between the US and Britain, where warships, submarines, and fighter jets were used to neutralize Houthi missile storage sites, drones, and launchers.
Iran-backed militias have escalated their attacks by employing ballistic missiles, a significant development according to Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu. Previously, these militias primarily used drones and rockets. Iran had provided short-range and close-range ballistic missiles to Shiite militias in Iraq, but they were not used until November last year.
The US retaliatory strikes last month targeted three sites and resulted in the destruction of facilities and the likely deaths of militia members, according to the White House.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, more than 151 attacks have been carried out on US facilities in Syria and Iraq. On Monday, two attacks occurred targeting US and coalition troops in Syria, resulting in no casualties or damage.
It is important to note that the US airstrikes are aimed at protecting US personnel and assets in the region as tensions with Iranian-backed militias continue to rise. The US government maintains that these strikes are in response to attacks and are intended to prevent further escalation.
