US conducts airstrikes on Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq

In a responsive move to repeated assaults on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, US military troops launched airstrikes against multiple locations used by Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliated organizations. The decision came after a recent attack by Kataib Hezbollah and allied factions on coalition soldiers in Erbil, Iraq, resulting in injuries.

Preliminary assessments from US Central Command indicate that the airstrikes caused damage to the targeted facilities and likely resulted in casualties among Kataib Hezbollah militants. However, there is no evidence of civilian casualties at this time. The US military will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these attacks.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of US Central Command, stated, “These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks. We will always protect our forces.”

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed the airstrikes in a tweet, saying, “Today, at POTUS direction, US military forces conducted necessary & proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah & affiliated groups in Iraq.” He added, “These pinpoint strikes are in reaction to a series of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militias, including an attack on Erbil Air Base earlier today by Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah and allied groups.”