In a series of escalating events, American forces have launched airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in both Iraq and Yemen, drawing criticism from Baghdad and further exacerbating tensions in the Middle East. The strikes in Iraq targeted sites used by Kataib Hezbollah and other Tehran-supported groups that have been involved in recent attacks on American forces in the region. However, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudan condemned the airstrikes as a violation of his country's sovereignty and a reckless escalation that undermines years of cooperation between the US and Iraq.

The US military defended its actions, stating that the precision strikes were in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and coalition personnel by Iranian-sponsored militias. The strikes in Iraq came just hours after militia fighters fired two one-way attack drones at al-Asad Air Base, injuring personnel and causing infrastructure damage. The base, located west of Baghdad, houses US and foreign troops stationed in Iraq.

Meanwhile, in Yemen, US forces destroyed two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed at the Red Sea and ready to launch. The strikes were carried out in self-defense, according to US Central Command. The US has been engaged in a series of clashes with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Red Sea, with recent airstrikes targeting their strongholds, including drone and missile sites.

These military actions come amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East, fueled by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Groups linked to Iran have been carrying out attacks aimed at undermining US support for Israel. Last Saturday, one of the most intense attacks against US forces in the region occurred when a barrage of missiles was fired at the al-Asad base, injuring four US service personnel and one member of Iraq's security forces.

The US has approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and another 900 stationed in Syria to advise local forces in countering the Islamic State group. While the US aims to prevent the war from spreading beyond the Israel-Hamas conflict, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that attacks on US troops and bases will not go without consequences. The US is prepared to take further measures to protect its personnel and facilities.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militia groups opposing US support for Israel, claimed responsibility for the attack on the al-Asad base. Since the start of the conflict in Gaza, Iran-proxy militia forces have launched attacks against the US military over 59 times in Iraq and 83 times in Syria. In response, the US has carried out retaliatory strikes against these groups.

The recent military operations in Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia mark the Pentagon's third set of strikes in just three days in three different countries. The US continues to stress that it does not seek to escalate conflict in the region and calls on the Iranian-sponsored groups to cease their attacks. The situation remains tense as the US and its allies navigate the complex dynamics in the Middle East.