The United States carried out airstrikes against “Facilities used by militias supported by Iran” on the Iraqi-Syrian border, in response to attacks against American interests in Iraq, the Pentagon announced on Sunday (June 27).
“On the orders of President Biden, US military forces carried out precision defensive airstrikes against facilities used by Iranian-backed militias in the Iraq-Syria border area.”Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
These strikes took place against operational centers and weapons depots located in two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq. “The targets were selected because these facilities are used by Iranian-backed militias who are involved in attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles. [UAV]against American personnel and installations in Iraq ”, added the Pentagon spokesman.
At least five fighters from Iranian-backed militias were killed in the strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). “At least five fighters from Iraqi militias supported by Iran were killed and several others wounded in an attack by American warplanes”, announced Monday this London-based non-governmental organization.
Brain teaser
US interests in Iraq have been the target of repeated attacks in recent months. The United States systematically accuses pro-Iran factions of being responsible. Since the beginning of the year, more than forty attacks have targeted the interests of the United States in the country, where 2,500 American soldiers are deployed as part of an international coalition to fight against the jihadist group Islamic State.
The new use of drones is a headache for the coalition because these flying devices can escape the C-RAM defense batteries, installed by the US military to defend its troops.
A drone “In charge of TNT”, according to the Kurdish authorities, crashed in April on the headquarters of the coalition at the airport of Erbil (north). A “Trapped drone” also crashed in May on the Iraqi air base of Ain al-Assad (west) sheltering Americans. And in early June, three drones targeted Baghdad airport, where American soldiers are also deployed, and five rockets were fired at an air base where American companies are operating.