President Joe Biden took decisive action, ordering retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups. (Photo: Business Mirror)
President Biden Orders Retaliatory Strikes Against Militants Following Drone Assault on U.S. Troops
In response to a drone attack that left three U.S. servicemembers injured in northern Iraq, President Joe Biden took decisive action, ordering retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups. The attack, claimed by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah, utilized a one-way drone, causing critical injuries to one of the U.S. troops.
President Biden alerted about the attack by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, swiftly ordered the Pentagon and top national security aides to prepare response options. Consultations with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and briefings by Gen. CQ Brown and the national security team led to the decision to target three locations used by the militant groups.
Carried out less than 13 hours after the initial drone attack, the retaliatory strikes in Iraq were aimed at destroying the targeted facilities and likely killing several Kataib Hezbollah militants, according to U.S. Central Command. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson stressed that the safety of American personnel remains the president’s top priority, emphasizing that further action will be taken should the attacks persist.
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The recent attack on U.S. troops is part of a series of escalating threats and actions against American forces in the region, following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The Biden administration aims to prevent the situation from spiraling into a wider regional conflict, with a commitment to protecting American personnel and facilities while avoiding unnecessary escalation.
As tensions in the region continue to unfold, President Biden’s measured yet resolute response to these attacks underscores the administration’s determination to safeguard American interests in the Middle East.
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