US Retaliates in Iraq Following Multiple Attacks that Injured 3 Troops

U.S. military forces executed strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq on Monday in response to multiple attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and Syria that injured three U.S. troops.

Under the command of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the U.S. military airstrikes targeted facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliated groups in Iraq at 8:45 p.m. EST on Dec. 25.

Earlier in the day, a one-way drone targeted a U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq, where American forces are stationed, resulting in injuries among U.S. personnel, according to the White House National Security Council (NSC).

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that President Joe Biden ordered the retaliatory strikes in response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in both Iraq and Syria, perpetrated by “Iranian-sponsored militias.”

“Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq,” Mr. Austin said in a statement.

“These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today, and intended to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible.”

According to early assessments, the strikes successfully destroyed the targeted facilities and likely inflicted casualties on Kataib Hezbollah, CENTCOM stated.