US launches retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq, Syria; nearly 40 killed
WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The United States launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and militias it backs, reportedly killing nearly 40 people, in retaliation for a deadly attack on US troops.
The strikes, which included the use of long-range B-1 bombers flown from the United States, were the first in response to the attack last weekend in Jordan by Iranbacked terrorists, and more US military operations are expected in the coming days.
The strikes intensified a conflict that has spread into the region since war erupted between Israel and Hamas after the Palestinian terrorist group’s deadly assault on Israel on October 7.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement the attacks represented “another adventurous and strategic mistake by the United States that will result only in increased tension and instability.”
Iraq summoned the US charge d’affaires in Baghdad to deliver a formal protest.
“Iraq reiterated its refusal that its lands be an arena for settling scores or showing force between warring countries,” the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, a state security force including Iran-backed groups, said 16 of its members were killed including fighters and medics. The government earlier said civilians were among 16 dead.
In Syria, the strikes killed 23 people who had been guarding the targeted locations, said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reports on war in Syria.
US Lt.-Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, said the attacks appeared to be successful, triggering large secondary explosions as the bombs hit weaponry. He said the strikes were undertaken knowing that there would likely be casualties among those in the facilities.
Despite the strikes, the Pentagon
has said it does not want war with Iran and does not believe Tehran wants war either, even as Republican
falls, another rises and takes the rifle, and we are ready to fight for many more months,” he told Reuters.
Separately, during an incident in the Shati area, female combat troops from the 414 Field Intelligence unit identified a number of Hamas terrorists who attempted to covertly transport weapons hidden in bags. In response, the troops directed an aircraft to the scene, which promptly struck and eliminated the terrorist cell.
Furthermore, in the area of Khan Yunis, IDF fighter jets struck a Hamas compound used to conduct combat, which was also harboring tunnel entrances. Additionally, soldiers from the 646th Brigade located AK-47 rifles, explosive devices, and additional weapons used by Hamas.
West of Khan Yunis, but not inside the city, soldiers from the Paratrooper Brigade killed several terrorists. During a targeted raid on a site near the city, the troops located weapons, RPGs, grenades, military equipment, and scuba diving equipment used by Hamas for attempted infiltrations from the sea.
In the western Khan Yunis area, troops from the Givati Brigade killed approximately 20 terrorists. During one of the operations, a terrorist cell fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF vehicle. The troops quickly responded with live fire toward the three terrorists who were responsible, killing them. •