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“Let’s be clear, Iran is accountable” for the assaults on U.S. forces, the official mentioned.
American F-16s hit the 2 places close to Abu Kamal, considered one of which was a weapons storage space whereas the opposite was an ammunition storage space, in keeping with a navy official.
It isn’t but clear if any Iranians have been current on the websites, mentioned the 2 officers, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate the subject.
American troops have come beneath assault by a mixture of one-way drones and rockets 19 occasions in Syria and Iraq this month.
General, 21 service members have been calmly injured, 19 of which have been recognized with traumatic mind harm, the Pentagon confirmed Thursday.
The officers mentioned that the websites have been concerned in a lot of these strikes on U.S. troops, and “Iranian fingerprints are throughout” the assaults, the protection official mentioned.
“What we did tonight was take a self-defense motion as a result of our forces within the Center East, who’re there to help safety and stability, are being threatened by Iran, and Iran-backed militias,” the protection official mentioned.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday pledged that the U.S. would reply if the assaults didn’t cease.
“My warning to the Ayatollah was that in the event that they proceed to maneuver towards these troops, we are going to reply, and he must be ready,” Biden mentioned.
“The President has traditionally leaned towards restraint, however the latest uptick in assaults compelled his hand,” mentioned Jonathan Lord, of the Heart for a New American Safety.
The Iranian-backed strikes and American response come amid a wider American navy buildup within the area in response to the Hamas assault inside Israel, and the Israeli response with 1000’s of airstrikes inside Gaza.
“The US despatched a message tonight that we’d straight reply towards Iran, and particularly the IRGC, in the event that they proceed to assault our navy positions and personnel in Syria and Iraq,” mentioned Mick Mulroy, a former Pentagon official and CIA officer. “Iran prefers to cover behind their proxy forces, corresponding to Hamas and Hezbollah, however that won’t defend them from duty or our retaliation.”
For the reason that Oct. 7 Hamas assaults, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin has dispatched a number of ships, fighter planes and air defenses to the area to assist defend American troops, together with most just lately a number of Patriot battalions and a Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Protection system.
There are about 900 U.S. troops in Syria and one other 2,500 in Iraq.
Alex Ward contributed to this report.
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