The U.S. navy stated Wednesday that U.S. warplanes struck a weapons storage facility in jap Syria, officers stated, including to dozens of drone and rocket assaults towards U.S. forces within the area over the previous three weeks. It was introduced that the ability was being utilized by Iranian-backed extremists.
It was the second such counterattack previously two weeks.
“Today, on the route of President Biden, the U.S. navy performed a self-defense assault on a facility in jap Syria utilized by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its associates,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated in an announcement.
Two F-15 jets fired precision munitions at a weapons warehouse in Deir Ezzor province, US officers stated.
“This precision self-defense strike is in response to a collection of assaults on U.S. navy personnel by the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force associates in Iraq and Syria. “The United States will shield itself, its personnel, and its pursuits,” Austin stated.
The United States has accused Tehran of endangering its troops, a senior protection official advised reporters Wednesday evening.
“We are holding Iran answerable for these assaults, not simply the militias,” the official stated.
In this July 20, 2022 file photograph, a U.S. Air Force F-15 jet flies throughout an annual gunnery train close to Eschenbach in southern Germany. Christof Stache/AFP through Getty Images, File
The U.S. airstrikes have been a part of a broader messaging effort to Iran’s management.
“We need you to instruct your brokers and militias to cease attacking us,” the senior protection official stated.
Ten days after the Hamas terrorist assault on Israel, Iranian-backed militants have launched a collection of near-daily assaults. U.S. forces have been attacked within the area a minimum of 41 occasions since Oct. 17, U.S. officers stated.
Military officers say most of those assaults have been thwarted, however not for lack of effort.
The Iran-linked attackers “in every case have been firing on a lot of what seemed to be U.S. navy personnel with the intent to kill,” officers stated Wednesday.
More than half of those assaults have occurred since Oct. 26, when U.S. warplanes struck two weapons and ammunition amenities in jap Syria, which officers stated have been linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolution. It is alleged to have been utilized by the Defense Forces and associated organizations.
A senior protection official acknowledged that these assaults had not stopped a wave of assaults on U.S. forces, saying, “Tonight, we simply demonstrated as soon as once more that we’re prepared and able to use navy power, and we’re dedicated to defending our protection. “No one ought to query the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ preparations to make use of navy power,” he added. President Biden’s willingness to direct extra choices or extra self-defense strikes to guard our navy and our pursuits. ”
“The United States is totally ready to take any extra steps obligatory to guard our folks and amenities, and we urge you to not take any escalation,” Austin stated in an announcement. We will carry it out.”
So far, 46 U.S. service members have been confirmed to have traumatic mind accidents or indicators of minor accidents equivalent to perforated eardrums, ringing within the ears and rolled ankles, Pentagon spokesman Brig Johnson stated. Gen. Pat Ryder advised reporters Monday.
Most of the troopers returned to responsibility, Ryder stated, however two have been taken to a U.S. navy hospital facility in Landstuhl, Germany, for additional testing and therapy.
In an announcement after the U.S. counterattack on Oct. 26, Austin blamed the Iranian regime for the assault on U.S. forces and vowed additional motion if the invasion continues.
“Iran needs to cover its hand and deny its position in these assaults on our forces. We won’t enable that. If assaults by Iranian proxies towards U.S. forces proceed, we’ll We won’t hesitate to take additional steps as obligatory to guard our folks.” He stated.
The United States can use its lately strengthened navy presence within the Middle East to discourage rebel assaults, stated Mick Mulroy, a former Marine and deputy assistant secretary of protection for Middle East affairs and ABC contributor.
“Part of excellent protection is sweet offense, and responding to the near-constant assaults by Iranian-sponsored and directed teams in a method that deters additional assaults,” Mulroy stated.
Early Wednesday morning, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, additionally backed by Iran, shot down a U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper drone on a reconnaissance flight in worldwide airspace, U.S. officers stated.