President Biden Orders Retaliatory Airstrikes in Iraq After US Soldiers Wounded in Drone Strike by Iran-Backed Terrorists

In a significant development, President Joe Biden has ordered retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq following a drone strike by Iran-backed terrorists that wounded three US soldiers, one critically, at an American base. The White House confirmed the president's decision, stating that the airstrikes were conducted to hold accountable those responsible for the attacks on coalition forces and to degrade their ability to continue such actions.

The airstrikes were carried out on Monday evening at approximately 8:45 p.m. EST. General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, revealed that the strikes likely resulted in the death of "a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants" and the destruction of multiple facilities used by the group. General Kurilla emphasized that the strikes were intended to protect US forces and prevent further attacks.

Earlier on Monday, a one-way drone strike conducted by the Iran-aligned militant group targeted a US base in Erbil, Iraq. As a result, three US soldiers sustained injuries, with one service member critically wounded. The identity of the critically wounded soldier has not been disclosed, and the extent of the injuries of the other two soldiers remains unclear.

In response to the attack, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his sympathy for the injured soldiers, stating, "My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured." President Biden was immediately briefed on the incident and subsequently directed the Pentagon to prepare response options against those responsible.

After careful consideration, President Biden authorized the airstrikes, contacting Secretary of Defense Austin to carry out the operation. Additional details regarding the airstrikes have not been made available at this time. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, emphasized that the protection of American personnel serving in harm's way is of utmost importance to the President. She warned that the United States would act decisively and in a manner of its choosing should these attacks persist.

The recent attacks on US bases and assets in the Middle East have been attributed to Iran-aligned militias. These assaults are believed to be a response to the United States' support for Israel in its conflict against Hamas in Gaza since the outbreak of war in October. The Biden administration has been working to carefully respond to these attacks, aiming to deter the militias without escalating tensions into a wider conflict.

As part of this strategy, the United States conducted a new series of airstrikes in Iraq on Tuesday. The strikes targeted facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah, a militia group considered a proxy of Iran. These airstrikes were in retaliation for the numerous assaults against US and coalition troops, including the drone attack on Erbil air base. Adrienne Watson confirmed that the strikes likely resulted in the deaths of militants and the destruction of three facilities used by the Iran-aligned proxies.

The United States has attributed the ongoing rocket and drone attacks to Iran and the militias aligned with it. The Biden administration has sought to find a balance between responding to these attacks and preventing a larger conflict. Despite the continuous barrage of attacks, the administration has refrained from targeting Houthi militants in Yemen, who have also been involved in attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Central Command stated that preliminary assessments indicated that there were no civilian casualties resulting from the latest airstrikes. The United States remains committed to protecting its personnel and will continue to respond to attacks against them accordingly.

The situation is evolving, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.