America retaliated after drone attack, attacked 85 Iranian targets in Syria – Dainik Savera Times

Washington. The US retaliated against attacks on its troops in Jordan by striking several targets of Iran-backed militias and the Iranian ‘Revolutionary Guard’ in Iraq and Syria. US President Joe Biden and other top US leaders have been warning for days that the US would retaliate against militia groups and made it clear that this would not be a single attack but a multi-layered response over time.

After the US attacks on Friday, Biden issued a statement saying, “America does not want conflict in West Asia or anywhere in the world, but those who want to harm us know this: If you harm any American. Biden had said last Sunday that three American soldiers were killed in a drone strike by terrorist groups supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Jordan.

“This afternoon, at my direction, U.S. military forces targeted targets in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia groups use to attack U.S. forces,” Biden said Friday. Our response began today and will continue in places of our choosing and at times of our choosing.

According to ‘US Central Command’ (CENTCOM), at 4 pm local time (2:30 am Friday IST), its forces conducted airstrikes against the ‘IRGC Quds Force’ and affiliated militia groups in Iraq and Syria.

US military forces attacked more than 85 targets, including many aircraft including long-range bombers sent from the US. CENTCOM said the targets struck included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rocket and missile and unmanned aerial vehicle storage, logistics and ammunition supply chain centers for militia groups and their IRGC sponsors.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the attacks were carried out on seven facilities that the IRGC and allied militias use to attack US forces. “This is the beginning of our response,” he said. “The President has directed additional action to hold the IRGC and allied militias accountable for their attacks on U.S. and coalition forces.”

“Attacks will be conducted at times and places of our choosing,” Austin said. We do not want conflict in West Asia or anywhere else, but the President and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces. We will take any action necessary to protect America, our forces, and our interests.”