The U.S. retaliated towards Iran-backed terror teams in Iraq Monday evening (early Tuesday native time) after a drone assault on the Al-Harir airbase close to the civilian airport within the northern Iraq metropolis of Erbil earlier Monday injured three U.S. personnel, together with one critically injured servicemember in accordance with a press release by Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin. U.S. Central Command additionally issued a press release saying indications are that a number of terrorists have been killed within the retaliatory airstrikes.
Video of injury from one of many U.S. airstrikes posted by reporter Steven Nabil, “One of many places focused by the ustwo hours in the past in Hilla, Babel.”
One of many places focused by the ustwo hours in the past in Hilla, Babel #Iraq pic.twitter.com/j1PUhFCbYi
— Steven Nabil (@thestevennabil) December 26, 2023
Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Strikes in Iraq
As we speak, at President Biden’s path, U.S. army forces performed essential and proportionate strikes on three services utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated teams in Iraq. These precision strikes are a response to a sequence of assaults towards U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, together with an assault by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated teams on Erbil Air Base earlier in the present day, and meant to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia teams immediately accountable.
As we speak’s assault led to 3 accidents to U.S. personnel, leaving one service member in crucial situation. My prayers are with the courageous Individuals who have been injured in the present day.
And let me be clear – the President and I cannot hesitate to take essential motion to defend the USA, our troops, and our pursuits. There isn’t a larger precedence. Whereas we don’t search to escalate battle within the area, we’re dedicated and totally ready to take additional essential measures to guard our individuals and our services.
U.S. Central Command additionally issued a press release including particulars on the retaliatory strikes:
U.S. CENTCOM conducts strikes towards Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group targets in Iraq:
In response to a number of assaults towards coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. army forces performed airstrikes towards a number of services utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated teams in Iraq at 8:45 p.m. (EST) on Dec. 25.
Earlier within the day, Iranian sponsored Kataib Hezbollah terrorists and affiliated teams attacked coalition forces at Erbil, Iraq leading to a number of accidents.
Early assessments point out that these U.S. airstrikes destroyed the focused services and sure killed a lot of Kataib Hezbollah militants. There are not any indications that any civilian lives have been affected. The U.S. army will proceed to judge the effectiveness of those strikes.
“These strikes are meant to carry accountable these components immediately liable for assaults on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their potential to proceed assaults. We’ll all the time defend our forces,” mentioned Normal Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander.
U.S. CENTCOM conducts strikes towards Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group targets in Iraq
In response to a number of assaults towards coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. army forces performed airstrikes towards a number of services utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated teams… pic.twitter.com/mmL4WqFXq9
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 26, 2023
Earlier Monday the Iraqi army issued a press release on the assault (translated):
The Iraqi authorities @IraqiGovt continues its intensive work to boost safety and stability all through the nation, stabilize the pillars of the state, and work to develop the capabilities and capabilities of our heroic safety forces.
On this persistent pursuit, outlaw teams are attempting to assault Iraqi bases, a few of which have worldwide coalition pressure advisors, together with what occurred at 1550 hours, Monday, by sending a bomb-laden drone close to Erbil Civil Airport. This has led to… The accident precipitated casualties, disrupted the airport’s operation, and affected the timing of civil flights.
Such legal acts intention to hurt Iraq’s pursuits, regional and worldwide relations and connections, and whereas we condemn this terrorist act, we affirm that the Iraqi safety forces, backed by intelligence efforts, will attain the perpetrators and convey them to justice in order that they will obtain their punishment.
•••••
Main Normal Particular Forces
Yahya Messenger Abdullah
Spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
December 25, 2023
تواصل الحكومة العراقية @IraqiGovt عملها المكثف لتعزيز الأمن والاستقرار في ربوع الوطن، وتثبيت أركان الدولة، والعمل على تطوير إمكانيات وقدرات قواتنا الأمنية البطلة.
وفي هذا السعي الحثيث تحاول جماعات خارجة عن القانون الاعتداء على القواعد العراقية، التي يتواجد في قسم منها مستشارو… pic.twitter.com/oRHShcIan8
— يحيى رسول | Yehia Rasool (@IraqiSpoxMOD) December 25, 2023
A Center East analyst, Shukriya Bradost, mentioned the phobia assault was a response to Israel killing an Iranian army chief in Syria on Monday: “I defined on @IranIntl that the suicide drone assault by an Iran-backed militia group on US forces at Erbil airport within the Kurdistan area is a response to the killing of a senior #IRGCterrorists commander, Reza Mousavi, in #Syria. Experiences point out that there are injured coalition forces on account of this assault. The probability of a response from the Biden administration is questionable, provided that Biden’s response to over 90 assaults by Iran-backed militia teams on US bases has been perceived as weak, probably encouraging #Iran to proceed its assaults.”
I defined on @IranIntl that the suicide drone assault by an Iran-backed militia group on US forces at Erbil airport within the Kurdistan area is a response to the killing of a senior #IRGCterrorists commander, Reza Mousavi, in #Syria. Experiences point out that there are injured… https://t.co/gKHmdZbFG1
— Shukriya Bradost (@ShukriyaBradost) December 25, 2023
Bradost’s concern a couple of weak response by Biden was confirmed with the insistence by Austin that the retaliatory airstrikes have been “proportionate” and that Joe Biden doesn’t “search to escalate battle within the area”, even after over 100 assaults on U.S. troops and the assaults on Purple Sea transport by Iranian-backed terror teams the previous three months.
Hudson Institute senior fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs appeared on the Fox Information Channel on Sunday to speak in regards to the Biden administration’s response (or lack thereof) to the assaults by Iranian-backed terror teams: