“This afternoon, on my orders, U.S. military forces struck bases in Iraq and Syria used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied fighters to attack U.S. forces. Our response began today. It will continue at a time and place of our choosing.” He wrote in the President's statement.
He also stressed that the US is not looking for a conflict in the Middle East. “But let everyone who wants to harm us know this: If you harm an American, we will respond,” Biden added.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin added a similar message in his statement. On Friday, 7 facilities with 85 targets were hit, he said. According to US Central Command, more than 125 precision-guided missiles were used in the attack, including those launched by B-1 long-range bombers from US bases. These include command centers, intelligence centers and stockpiles of missiles and drones used to attack US forces in the Middle East.
“Targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties.” Iraq was early
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during an online briefing on Friday that there are three facilities in Iraq and four in Syria.
“These targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties and were based on clear and irrefutable evidence that they were linked to attacks on US troops in the region,” Kirby said. No casualties are yet known, but initial reports suggest that the attack was successful. He also noted that the US had informed Iraqi authorities about the attacks in advance. However, he denied any contacts or warnings against officials in Iran. He announced that further blows would occur “in the coming days”.
Friday's strikes were the first but not the last wave of bombings in response to an attack by Iranian-backed militants at the Tower 22 site in Jordan. Three American soldiers were killed and at least 40 were wounded. Friday's attacks came hours after the bodies of the slain soldiers arrived in the United States. On Friday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced another trip to the Middle East, and one of his goals is to avoid an escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
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