The United States launched retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, targeting more than 85 Iran-linked sites, according to the U.S. military. These strikes come in response to a deadly attack in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. troops and left dozens injured. This is believed to be the first phase of a larger response by President Joe Biden’s administration to the attack carried out by Iran-backed militants.
While the strikes did not target Iran directly, they are expected to increase concerns about escalating tensions in the region, particularly amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza. The U.S. military stated that the airstrikes aimed at command and control centers, as well as storage facilities for rockets, missiles, and drones. They also targeted logistics and munitions supply chain facilities.
More than 85 targets were hit with over 125 munitions in total, with the Quds Force, the foreign espionage and paramilitary arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), being a primary focus. The Quds Force heavily influences allied militias across the Middle East, from Lebanon and Iraq to Yemen and Syria. Syrian state media reported casualties and injuries resulting from the American aggression on sites along the Syrian-Iraqi border and in desert areas.
Earlier on Friday, President Biden and Pentagon leaders attended a ceremony at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of the three soldiers killed in the Jordan attack were returned. This attack marked the first deadly strike against U.S. troops since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October.
U.S. officials have informed Reuters that the drone responsible for killing the soldiers and injuring many others was of Iranian origin. However, the Pentagon stressed its reluctance for war with Iran and its belief that Tehran shares the same sentiment. Amid increasing pressure from Republicans to take direct action against Iran, President Biden’s administration remains focused on avoiding an escalation in hostilities.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Iran would not initiate a war but would respond strongly to any attempts to bully the nation. Iranian advisors have been supporting armed groups in Iraq, where the U.S. maintains around 2,500 troops, as well as in Syria, where approximately 900 troops are stationed. Recent Israeli strikes have resulted in the IRGC scaling back the deployment of senior officers in Syria.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan have faced over 160 attacks, according to Israeli tallies. At the same time, Houthi fighters in Yemen have been launching drones and missiles at ships in the Red Sea, claiming support for the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel.
The death toll in Gaza has soared to 26,422, with a further 65,087 injured, since the beginning of the conflict in October, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The United States has already responded to previous attacks by Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
