President Joe Biden has directed the U.S. military to conduct retaliatory airstrikes against militia groups backed by Iran following a drone attack in northern Iraq that injured three U.S. service members, according to BBC.
Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the National Security Council, reported that one of the U.S. troops sustained critical injuries in the Monday attack. The group responsible, Kataib Hezbollah, along with affiliated factions operating under Iranian support, claimed responsibility for the assault involving a one-way attack drone.
While spending Christmas at Camp David, Maryland, President Biden was promptly briefed on the attack by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. In response, Biden immediately instructed the Pentagon and his top national security advisors to prepare a range of response options to address the attack on an air base utilized by American forces in Erbil.
Spending Christmas at Camp David, Maryland, President Biden was promptly informed about the attack by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Biden instructed the Pentagon and top national security advisors to prepare response plans concerning the assault on an air base utilized by American troops in Erbil.
Consulting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Sullivan and Biden’s deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer, reviewed options with other aides at Camp David, as reported by a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity.
In a subsequent briefing with Gen. CQ Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Biden opted to target three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliates. The U.S. strikes occurred in Iraq at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Tuesday, less than 13 hours after the initial attack, resulting in the destruction of targeted facilities and probable casualties among Kataib Hezbollah militants, per U.S. Central Command.
Watson affirmed that safeguarding American personnel remains a top priority for President Biden. She emphasized that the United States will respond at its discretion should such attacks persist.
The recent attack on U.S. troops comes amid escalating tensions and actions against American forces in the region following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which triggered the conflict in Gaza.
The exchange of strikes between Iranian-supported militant groups and U.S. facilities began on October 17, with ongoing attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict more than two months ago.
The Biden administration aims to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from expanding into a broader regional confrontation, a strategy that has drawn criticism from Republicans due to selective responses to attacks on American troops.