The U.S. Military launched airstrikes this week against an Islamic terrorist group in Iraq after the group injured multiple U.S. service members in a drone strike on Christmas.
U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked more than 100 times since October 17, according to a recent report from the Military Times.
Three U.S. service members were hurt, including one who was in critical condition, after the terror group launched a suicide drone at a U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq.
In response to the attacks, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against multiple facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, and affiliated groups in Iraq late on Monday night, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.
“Early assessments indicate that these U.S. airstrikes destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants,” the statement said. “There are no indications that any civilian lives were affected. The U.S. military will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these strikes.”
CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla said that the strikes were “intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks.”
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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the other terror groups that have been involved in attacking U.S. forces in the region were also “Iran-aligned.”
“Let me be clear – the President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests,” Austin said. “There is no higher priority. While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities.”