US launches retaliation strikes in Iraq and Syria in response to Jordan drone attack that killed three soldiers

US launches retaliation strikes in Iraq and Syria in response to Jordan drone attack that killed three soldiers

WATCH NOW: Three US soldiers were killed and dozens injured in Jordan drone attack

GB News
Holly Bishop

By Holly Bishop


Published: 02/02/2024

- 21:33

Updated: 02/02/2024

- 22:43

The strikes have targeted locations across the Middle East and are expected to last for days

The US has launched retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria against Iranian-backed militants after three US soldiers were killed in Jordan last week.

The retaliatory strikes struck more than 85 targets with 145 bombs, hitting numerous sites including truck command and control operations and intelligence centers.


The strikes have targeted locations across the Middle East and are expected to last for days.

The US Central Command posted on social media: "At 4:00pm (EST) February 2, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.

Coffin of one of the deceased soldiers and Biden/Fighter jets over the skyBiden has launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in retaliationGetty/Reuters
Members of the US Honor Guard carry the remains of Army Reserve Sergeants William Rivers, Kennedy Sanders and Breonna Moffett

Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett all died on Sunday's strike

Reuters

"US military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States. The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions.

"The facilities that were struck included command and control operations, centers, intelligence centers, rockets, and missiles, and unmanned aired vehicle storages, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against US and Coalition forces."

Joe Biden released a statement on the retaliatory attacks: "This afternoon, at my direction, US military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack US forces.

"Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

President Joe Biden attends the dignified transfer of the remains of Army Reserve Sergeants

The President attended the dignified transfer ceremony of the three fallen soldiers

Reuters

The President said the US "does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world" but issued a stark warning.

"Let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond."

The US strikes came after three American troops were killed in an attack at Tower 22 near the Syrian border. Dozens of others were also injured in the strike.

It marked the first time US troops have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the beginning of the Gaza war.

Earlier this week, the US Department of Defence named the three soldiers who lost their lives in the attack.

Sgt William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia, Spc Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia and Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia all died on Sunday's strike.

Sabrina Singh

The pentagon’s deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said that the US knows that Iran was behind the attacks

Getty

The three were all supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and had been assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade, Fort Moore, Georgia.

The President attended the dignified transfer ceremony of the three fallen soldiers. He watched on as their coffins were draped in American flags and carried across the tarmac.

The Pentagon’s deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said: "We know that Iran is behind it. Iran continues to arm and equip these groups to launch these attacks.

"I don’t have more to share in terms of an intelligence assessment on if leaders in Iran were directing this attack, but what I can tell you is that we know these groups are supported by Iran."

Iran has denied any involvement and said it was "not involved in the decision making of resistance groups".

Singh added that the number of people known to have been injured in the attack is now more than 40.

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