In a series of retaliatory airstrikes on Iraq and Syria, the United States military launched a response to recent attacks on U.S. troops in the Middle East. According to U.S. Central Command, more than 85 targets, including command and control centers, intelligence facilities, rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicle storage, were struck. The decision to carry out these strikes came after Iran-backed militants launched a drone strike on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan, killing three U.S. service members and injuring over 40 others.
Interestingly, the strikes commenced just one hour after President Biden attended the solemn ceremony honoring the fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Although officials claim the timing was mere coincidence, it symbolizes the gravity of the President's decision. Notably, Iraqi officials reported that at least 16 people were killed in the strikes and condemned them as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. Iraq has sent a protest note regarding the American aggression to the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad.
