The US military, under the instruction of President Biden, began conducting air assaults on multiple sites in Iraq and Syria linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and affiliated militias on Friday.
The strikes are a response to the deaths of three American troops who lost their lives when a drone entered and attacked a US base in Jordan, known as Tower 22 last Sunday. The attack also wounded nearly 40. The retaliation, directed at more than 85 targets, is expected to last several days.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that these strikes are the start of a broader response in holding the IRGC and associated groups accountable. Secretary of State Tony Blinken will make a diplomatic trip to the Middle East next week.
The Pentagon reports over 160 attacks by Iranian-linked militias on US forces situated in the Middle East since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.
Efforts to avoid spillover
America has tried to avoid spillover of the regional conflict to other areas, which is why President Biden signed an executive order this week that allows the US to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians.