A U.S. drone strike killed multiple Iranian-backed terrorist leaders on Wednesday night in Baghdad, Iraq, according to initial reports.
The strike comes after the Biden administration was widely criticized last week for repeatedly telegraphing its plans to hit certain targets in Iraq and Syria in response to Iranian-backed terrorists killing three U.S. soldiers and wounding dozens more in a suicide drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan.
&#8220;U.S. drone struck [an] SUV driving through Baghdad with a hellfire missile killing three in the car,&#8221; said Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD). &#8220;Of them, two leaders from the Iran loyalist Iraq militia Kataeb Hezbollah (Abu Baqer Al-Saidi and Arkan Al-Aliyawi).&#8221;
&#8220;At least one is believed to be responsible for the militia&#8217;s operations in Syria, from where the militia launched an explosive drone that hit a U.S. base in Jordan and killed three U.S. troops,&#8221; Abdul-Hussain added. &#8220;America&#8217;s long arm of justice.&#8221;
A source <a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/drone-strikes-hit-vehicle-in-baghdad-security-sources-55483b1f">told</a> Agence France Presse (AFP) that a drone “fired three rockets at a 4X4 car”.
A U.S. official confirmed to VOA News that the U.S. was behind the strike on the high-value target.
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Local Arabic-speaking media said that the third person killed in the vehicle was Abu Tahseen Al-Hamidawi from the Al-Nujaba Movement, another terrorist group backed by Iran.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#عاجل</a> &#8211; طائرة مسيرة مجهولة تستهدف بالصواريخ &quot;سيارة&quot; في منطقة المشتل شرقي <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#بغداد</a> <a href="https://t.co/20mgAKqdyj">pic.twitter.com/20mgAKqdyj</a>
&mdash; شبكة الصحافة العراقية +INP (@INPPLUSarabi) <a href="https://twitter.com/INPPLUSarabi/status/1755300799591088213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Iraqi media reporting a drone strike on a vehicle in Baghdad. <a href="https://t.co/jtped4UTAp">pic.twitter.com/jtped4UTAp</a>
&mdash; Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1755307656645087424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The fire that engulfed a vehicle targeted by a drone strike in Baghdad has been extinguished. <a href="https://t.co/VnrmaMAzeF">pic.twitter.com/VnrmaMAzeF</a>
&mdash; Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1755307860127604737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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This was a highly sophisticated assassination which took place in a busy neighborhood during the evening rush time in Baghdad, the commanders are high level Kataib Hezbollah (Drones, logistics and intelligence) <a href="https://t.co/m8xCG8fzCZ">pic.twitter.com/m8xCG8fzCZ</a>
&mdash; Steven Nabil (@thestevennabil) <a href="https://twitter.com/thestevennabil/status/1755313291893891284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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This is a breaking news story; refresh the page for updates.

Iraq

U.S. Drone Strike Smokes Multiple Iranian-Backed Terrorist Leaders: Reports

Conflicts

Iran

Syria

World

One of the targets that U.S. forces purportedly hit in a retaliatory airstrike late on Friday showed multiple <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secondary explosions</a> after getting hit with U.S. munitions.
The video, which was <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/us-response-drone-strike-soldiers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> by Fox News, reportedly occurred in the Town of Al-Qa&#8217;im in Western Iraq.
Multiple aerial projectiles can be seen &#8220;cooking off&#8221; — meaning they ignite due to the extreme heat produced by the fires from the strike — into the night sky.
WATCH:
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Secondary Rocket Munitions seen “Cooking-Off” from an Iranian Arms Site within the Town of Al-Qa&#39;im in Western Iraq following U.S. Airstrikes. <a href="https://t.co/WQsF9rJSMF">pic.twitter.com/WQsF9rJSMF</a>
&mdash; OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1753539083186438518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement. “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 aerial vehicle storages, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces.”
The strikes come after the Biden administration has repeatedly telegraphed its plans to Iran over the last several days, including general details about when the strikes would likely start, where they would occur, and what they would target.
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Voice of America News reported that a U.S. official said that the goal of the strike was to cause “a major disruption in logistics” for the IRGC and the terrorist groups that it backs.
The targets selected were “critical to their supply chain” the official <a href="https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1753539544094318663" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, adding that the strikes were not intended to target “personnel.”
“We hit what we intended to hit,” the official said.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-u-s-military-officials-experts-blast-bidens-response-after-u-s-troops-murdered-not-impressed-at-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Former U.S. Military Officials, Experts Blast Biden’s Response After U.S. Troops Murdered: ‘Not Impressed At All’</a>

US Air force B-1B Lancers arrive at Incirlik Air Base for training mission in Adana

WATCH: Multiple Secondary Explosions Rock Target Of U.S. Airstrike

Biden Administration

Terrorism

The U.S. Military conducted airstrikes against an Iranian-backed terrorist group in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iraq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iraq</a> on Tuesday in response to continued attacks that the group has launched against U.S. forces in the region.
&#8220;In response to attacks by the Iranian-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah (KH), including the attack on al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq on Jan. 20, on Jan. 24 at 12:15 a.m. (Iraq time), U.S. CENTCOM forces conducted unilateral airstrikes against three facilities used by Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq,&#8221; U.S. Central Command said in a statement. &#8220;These strikes targeted KH headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities.&#8221;
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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin claimed that the Biden administration would &#8220;not hesitate to take necessary action to defend&#8221; U.S. forces in the region from the attacks, despite U.S. forces in the region having already been attacked more than 150 times since October 17, 2023.
Kataib Hezbollah is an Iraqi Shia terrorist group that was founded in 2007. The group &#8220;seeks to establish an Iran-aligned government in Iraq, expel US and coalition forces from the country, and advance Iranian interests throughout the Middle East,&#8221; according to the office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The group has received extensive training, funding, logistic support, weapons, and intelligence from Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF).

Computers Revolutionizes The Aviation Industry

U.S. Launches Strikes Against Iranian-Backed Terror Group In Iraq

Military

Multiple U.S. service members were injured in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iraq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iraq</a> over the weekend after Iranian-backed terrorist groups fired a large number of missiles at a base.
&#8220;At approximately 6:30 p.m. (Baghdad time) time Jan. 20, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets were launched by Iranian-backed militants in Western Iraq targeting al-Assad Airbase,&#8221; U.S. Central Command said in a statement. &#8220;Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base’s air defense systems while others impacted on the base.&#8221;
Officials began conducting damage assessments shortly after the attack, and &#8220;a number of U.S. personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries,&#8221; the statement added.
Fox News reported at least two U.S. soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries.
During the attack, more than 15 U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missiles were launched from the base to intercept the incoming Iranian missiles, the report added.
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CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-personnel-wounded-missile-attack-iraq-al-asad-airbase-iranian-backed-rebels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that the terrorist attack was at least the 144th attack that Iranian-backed terrorist groups have launched against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since Hamas launched its unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, murdering more than 1,200 Israelis.
The use of ballistic missiles rather than rockets represents a continuing escalation of tensions in the region, tensions that Iran is responsible for creating and escalating. Major Iranian-backed terrorist groups in the region that have launched attacks against either the U.S. or Israel in recent months includes, but is not limited to, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

IRAQ-IRAN-US-MILITARY

Multiple U.S. Troops Injured Following Large Missile Barrage On Base In Iraq

The Islamic Republic of Iran launched ballistic missiles late on Monday night that landed near the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Iraq.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a wing of Iran&#8217;s military and a designated terrorist organization, took responsibility for the attacks, saying that they were the &#8220;headquarters of spies&#8221; and &#8220;anti-Iranian terrorist gatherings in parts of the region&#8221;.
The IRGC claimed the facilities that it was targeting belonged to Israel&#8217;s Mossad intelligence agency. Iran claimed that Mossad was behind &#8220;terrorist activities in the region,&#8221; which is false.
Several people were killed in the attacks, according to ABC News. No American casualties were reported.
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BREAKING : Footage of loud explosions in Erbil <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iraq?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iraq</a> targeting US consulate and airport. Arabic media reporting 6 explosions using missiles and drones <a href="https://t.co/MgObwqXcNY">https://t.co/MgObwqXcNY</a>
&mdash; Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/1747005682799272341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson addressed the escalation from Iran in a statement emailed to reporters on Monday evening.
&#8220;We have been in touch with senior Iraqi officials as well as officials in the Kurdistan Region,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Iran is claiming this is in response to the terrorist attacks in Kerman, Iran and Rask, Iran, with a focus on ISIS.&#8221;
&#8220;We will continue to assess the situation, but initial indications are that this was a reckless and imprecise set of strikes,&#8221; she added. &#8220;The United States supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Iraq.&#8221;
The attacks comes after Iran has activated its proxies throughout the region to launch more than 120 attacks against U.S. forces since October 17, just a little over a week after Hamas murdered 1,200+ Israelis in an unprecedented terrorist attack.
Other Iranian proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, have continued launching attacks against Israel while the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have launched dozens of attacks against merchant ships in international waters in the Red Sea.

Iran-IRGC Unveiled Two New Missiles During The Ela Bait Al-Maqdis Military Rally

Iran Launches Ballistic Missile Strike Near U.S. Consulate In Iraq

IRGC

terrorist

The former Miss Iraq — who made international headlines and faced backlash from critics of Israel after she posed for photos with Miss Israel at the 2017 Miss International Beauty Pageant — visited the scene of the October 7 Hamas massacre of Israelis and blasted those who slaughter Jews in the name of Allah.
“I visited Kfar Aza, a place where the heart-wrenching horror of Hamas’s infiltration led to a massacre of innocent Israeli families right in their homes,&#8221; Sarah Idan, Miss Iraq 2017 tweeted. “Located just a mile from Gaza, we stood witness as the Iron Dome intercepted rockets launched by Hamas. I brought my old uniform from Iraq to be mentally prepared, but I was still shocked and at a loss for words. Never in my life, not even amidst the terror of ISIS, have I seen such barbarity. What was once a vibrant community now echoes with a haunting silence of tragedy.”
“I don’t care what’s your religion if your God permits you to do this in his name then your God is wrong,” she wrote bluntly. “My mind is still traumatized by the scene, the smell of the dead bodies. Shame on those pretending the massacre didn’t happen.”
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I visited Kfar Aza, a place where the heart-wrenching horror of Hamas’s infiltration led to a massacre of innocent Israeli families right in their homes. Located just a mile from Gaza, we stood witness as the Iron Dome intercepted rockets launched by Hamas. I brought my old… <a href="https://t.co/3gvZ1LD96x">pic.twitter.com/3gvZ1LD96x</a>
&mdash; Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSarahIdan/status/1740306060081029121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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I don’t care what’s your religion if your God permits you to do this in his name then your God is wrong. My mind is still traumatized by the scene, the smell of the dead bodies. Shame on those pretending the massacre didn’t happen. <a href="https://t.co/4ELXTwgA68">pic.twitter.com/4ELXTwgA68</a>
&mdash; Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSarahIdan/status/1740307094035894353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In November 2017, Idan posed for photos with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman, for their respective Instagram accounts. Idan’s caption read: “Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel.” Gandelsman wrote on her Instagram post, “Get to know, this is Miss Iraq and she’s amazing.” She added on Facebook, “Practicing bringing world peace.”
The backlash from parts of the Muslim world targeting Idan, 27 at the time, was so fierce that she posted a defense on Instagram, writing in Arabic, “I want to stress that the purpose of the picture was only to express hope and desire for peace between the two countries,” but adding that the photo did not indicate support for the Israeli government and offering an apology if the photo was harmful to the Palestinian cause.
Despite her attempt to curb the backlash, Idan ended up having to relocate her family due to threats, the Jerusalem Post reported. Gandelsman, who has become good friends with Idan, told Hadashot that Idan’s family had been forced to flee Iraq after receiving death threats for Idan’s photos with Gandelsman as well as Idan posing in a bikini.
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In June 2018, Idan and Gandelsman reunited in Jerusalem, then posted a picture online captioned, “Sister&#8217;s reunion.” The two also posted a video in which Idan told her followers “Shalom” while Gandelsman told her followers, “Salaam.”
Idan told Israel’s Channel 2 News, “I don&#8217;t think Iraq and Israel are enemies; I think maybe the governments are enemies with each other. There&#8217;s a lot of Iraqi people that don&#8217;t have a problem with Israelis.”
In October 2019, Idan lauded Israel for its commitment to help the Kurdish people in the face of Turkish dictator Recep Erdogan’s brutal assault on them. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted, “Israel strongly condemns the Turkish invasion of the Kurdish areas in Syria and warns against the ethnic cleansing of the Kurds by Turkey and its proxies. Israel is prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to the gallant Kurdish people.”
Idan commented, “And people wonder why I stand with Israel … heard many countries say ‘They condemn’ but not a single one said they will extend assistance to #Kurds.”
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Israel strongly condemns the Turkish invasion of the Kurdish areas in Syria and warns against the ethnic cleansing of the Kurds by Turkey and its proxies. Israel is prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to the gallant Kurdish people.
&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu &#8211; בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1182268451269857281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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And people wonder why I stand with Israel&#8230; heard many countries say “they condemn” but not a single one said they will extend assistance to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kurds?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kurds</a> <a href="https://t.co/xsPEgpXlRD">https://t.co/xsPEgpXlRD</a>
&mdash; Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSarahIdan/status/1182359755517358081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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ISRAEL-IRAQ-INTERNET-MISS UNIVERSE-2017

‘If Your God Permits You To Do This In His Name Then Your God Is Wrong’: Miss Iraq Visits Scene Of October 7 Hamas Massacre

Hamas

Islam

Israel

Miss Iraq

October 7

The U.S. Military launched airstrikes this week against an Islamic terrorist group in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iraq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iraq</a> 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 <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/12/21/us-troops-in-iraq-and-syria-have-faced-over-100-attacks-since-october/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> 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.
&#8220;Early assessments indicate that these U.S. airstrikes destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;There are no indications that any civilian lives were affected. The U.S. military will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these strikes.&#8221;
CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla said that the strikes were &#8220;intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks.&#8221;
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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 &#8220;Iran-aligned.&#8221;
&#8220;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,&#8221; Austin said. &#8220;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.&#8221;

NETHERLANDS-NATO-AIRFORCE

U.S. Launches Airstrikes After Multiple Service Members Injured In Attack

Middle East

Radical Islam

U.S. Military

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed on Friday that there were four more attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria in the past 24 hours, making a total of 82 total attacks since October 17, POLITICO <a href="https://twitter.com/laraseligman/status/1733187933895582196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1733187933895582196%7Ctwgr%5E351ba224020e2a99f96ab06bcb7deeb1db5b7ce1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.dailywire.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D664865action%3Dedit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
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Additionally, Friday morning, a rocket was launched targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Since the October 7 massacre of Israeli citizens “Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks that targeted bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria” CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rockets-fired-at-u-s-embassy-in-iraq-as-mideast-violence-keeps-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported. </a>“The U.S. military says 78 attacks have been carried out against U.S. facilities over the past weeks.”
Earlier this week, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who served in the U.S. military for 23 years, including as a company commander in Kuwait and Iraq, slammed President Joe Biden for his weakness in defending U.S. troops from repeated attacks by Iran’s proxies, calling on Biden to be “more aggressive in pushing back.”
Ernst was <a href="https://grabien.com/story.php?id=450269&amp;utm_source=cliplist&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cliplist20231205&amp;utm_content=story450269" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviewed</a> by Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, who noted, “They’re coming after us. We’ve been attacked 75 times on our troops in the Middle East since October 17,” before asking, “How would you assess the White House’s response to this escalation coming out of Iran. It is Iran, even though it’s its proxies, Iran is pulling the strings, right?”
“Right, and there is no secret how I feel about the White House&#8217;s response to the attacks in the Middle East: I am sorely disappointed in the president and his lack of response when our troops are being targeted,” Ernst responded. “So I think we need to be much more aggressive in pushing back. We are defending our troops. It is our right; it is our responsibility, to make sure these men and women can defend themselves.”
Ernst had warned in late October that Biden was weak in dealing with threats against U.S. troops. She appeared on Fox News with host Harris Faulkner, who played a clip of South Carolina GOP Senator Lindsey Graham adding there would be harsh consequences if Iran escalated the war between Israel and Hamas as he declared, “If this war grows, it’s coming to your backyard. There won’t be two fronts; there’ll be three. If there’s an effort to unleash Hezbollah on the Jewish state to destroy it, my attention will be to Tehran. If these innocent hostages get slaughtered, I hold you, Iran, accountable, because you could stop it if you chose to. The idea that this happened without Iranian involvement is laughable.”
Faulkner then turned to Ernst: “Is he right?”
“He is absolutely correct, Harris,” Ernst answered. “Iran is behind this. They fund 93% of Hamas’ activities; they fund 100% of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s activities; not to mention Hezbollah and the Houthis. This all goes right back to Iran.”
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“But you know what, who else is involved in this?” she asked rhetorically. “President Biden has been so actively appeasing Iran instead of standing up to them, and I&#8217;m telling you, if we lose more Americans, we need to go after Iran. It is incredibly important that we push back against them. We need to be interdicting their oil just as our sanctions call for, we need to refreeze that $6 billion.”
“We, the United States of America, are not standing strong enough when it comes to pushing back against this terrorism,” she said. “It’s infiltrating all around the globe. I know that President Biden gave up on the War on Terror, but it’s not over yet.”
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/as-irans-proxies-target-u-s-troops-ernst-slams-biden-for-his-weakness">As Iran&#8217;s Proxies Target U.S. Troops, Ernst Slams Biden For His Weakness</a>

US military sends reinforcements to its bases in Syria

4 More Attacks On U.S. Military In Iraq, Syria In Last 24 Hours: Report

Department of Defense

Joe Biden

The U.S. military unleashed an AC-130 gunship on an Iranian-backed terrorist group in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iraq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iraq</a> this week after the group fired a ballistic missile at U.S. and coalition forces stationed at Al-Asad Airbase.
&#8220;On 21 Nov. an AC-130 gunship engaged individuals responsible for launching a missile attack on U.S. and Coalition personnel at Al Assad Airbase, Iraq,&#8221; U.S. Central Command said in a statement. &#8220;The gunship maintained visual confirmation of the individuals from the time of the launch to the time of engagement. This strike resulted in several enemy casualties.&#8221;
The missile attack resulted in multiple U.S. personnel being injured at the facility, as well as damage to infrastructure at the base.
A pentagon spokesperson said that the gunship was able to respond so quickly because it was already in the air when the attack happened.
&#8220;We were able to identify the point of origin of these attacks because an AC-130 was up already in the area and therefore was able to respond,&#8221; the spokesperson said. &#8220;They were able to take action because they saw the militants. They were able to keep an eye on the movement of these militants as they moved into their vehicles and that&#8217;s why they were able to respond.&#8221;
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The U.S. did not specify which terrorist organization was behind the attack, only that it was backed by Iran.
U.S. forces throughout the region have been attacked at least 66 times in Iraq and Syria since October 17, ten days after Hamas launched an unprecedented terror attack against Israel, murdering 1,200 Israelis, wounding 5,300+, and kidnapping more than 240.
The AC-130 is one of the most feared aerial weapons in the U.S. arsenal as its equipped with a Precision Strike Package that includes a 30mm and 105mm cannon in addition to its Standoff Precision Guided Munitions, which includes GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, GBU-69 Small Glide Munitions, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and AGM-176 Griffin missiles.
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The gunship, commonly referred to as &#8220;the angel of death,&#8221; has the ability to travel at up to 420 mph and circle targets for hours while providing highly accurate fire support to forces on the ground.

An AC-130H Gunship dispenses flares.

AC-130 Gunship Unleashes Fury On Iranian-Backed Terrorists In Iraq

Adding to a long list of gaffes, President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> appeared to confuse <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine">Ukraine</a> with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iraq">Iraq</a> on Wednesday.
Twice in two days, Biden, who is 80, talked about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine-russia-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia&#8217;s war in Ukraine</a> only to describe it as a war in Iraq, underscoring many Americans&#8217; concerns about the commander-in-chief&#8217;s mental acuity.
A reporter asked Biden on Wednesday morning to comment on the extent to which Russian President Vladimir Putin has been &#8220;weakened&#8221; by recent events following the brief <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wagner-leader-made-it-to-belarus-president-lukashenko-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wagner Group uprising</a>.
&#8220;It&#8217;s hard to tell but he is clearly losing the war in Iraq, he&#8217;s losing the war at home and he has become a bit of a pariah around the world,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1674063508017913856" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden said</a>.
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Q: &quot;To what extent has Vladimir Putin been weakened by recent events?&quot;
President Biden: &quot;It&#39;s hard to tell but he is clearly losing the war in Iraq, he&#39;s losing the war at home and he has become a bit of a pariah around the world.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PZhYhdGDij">pic.twitter.com/PZhYhdGDij</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1674063508017913856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Biden made a similar verbal slip-up during a fundraiser in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Tuesday, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/06/28/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-campaign-reception-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as evidenced by the official White House transcript</a>, which crossed out &#8220;Iraq&#8221; and replaced it with &#8220;Ukraine&#8221; in brackets.
&#8220;If anybody told you — and my staff wasn’t so sure, either — that we&#8217;d be able to bring all of Europe together in the onslaught on Iraq and get NATO to be completely united, I think they would have told you it&#8217;s not likely,&#8221; Biden said. &#8220;The one thing Putin counted on was being able to split NATO.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
here&#39;s the WH transcript from the 2nd fundraiser last night <a href="https://t.co/qNjBaBOm0N">pic.twitter.com/qNjBaBOm0N</a>
&mdash; Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexThomp/status/1674082419241000961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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During the same remarks, Biden quickly corrected himself after mentioning China when he meant to say India.
&#8220;You probably saw my new best friend — the prime minister of a little country that’s now the largest in the world, China — I mean, excuse me, India. India is not looking for a permanent alliance, but they’re looking for some hedge against — in the region,&#8221; <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/06/27/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-campaign-reception-chevy-chase-md/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he said</a>.
Biden, who is known for regularly making gaffes and losing his train of thought while speaking, is facing increasing scrutiny as he seeks a second term in the White House.
A recent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/polls-finds-rising-tide-of-voters-worried-biden-lacks-fitness-to-be-president" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poll from NBC News</a> found growing anxiety concerning <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden</a>&#8216;s fitness to serve, as more than two-thirds of registered voters — 68% — said they have moderate to major concerns about him &#8220;not having the necessary mental and physical health&#8221; to be president.
&#8220;The age and acuity question is THE central issue for Biden in this campaign,&#8221; said political commentator Chris Cillizza <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisCillizza/status/1674092599710306305" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in response to the clip</a> of Biden talking about Putin losing a war in Iraq.
On Monday, Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/latest-biden-blunder-raises-eyebrows-i-sold-a-lot-of-state-secrets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went viral</a> over an errant quip he made last week about profiting from the sale of state secrets, which in fact is a real concern for Republicans looking into Biden family <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-times-buries-the-lede-confirms-hunter-biden-probe-whistleblower-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">business dealings involving foreigners</a> from countries such as Ukraine and China.
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&#8220;I was just thanking the — anyway, I started off without you, and I sold a lot of state secrets and a lot of very important things that we shared,&#8221; Biden said on Friday during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Big Tech CEOs.
Laughter ensued, and Biden followed by saying, &#8220;Now, all kidding aside&#8230;,&#8221; before he went on to talk about technology transforming the lives of people around the world, the official White House transcript shows.
Still, the comment prompted widespread mockery and criticism of the president on social media. “Joe Biden’s brain is going and he’s literally admitting his crimes out loud. Impeach Biden! It’s unreal and so insulting to America,” <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1673446541523136513" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

President Joe Biden

Biden Blunders Again, Says Putin ‘Clearly Losing The War In Iraq’

Biden Blunders Again, Says Putin 'Clearly Losing The War In Iraq'

Executive

Politics

Ukraine

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Senate</a> voted on Wednesday to repeal the authorizations for the Iraq and Persian Gulf wars decades after they were instituted.
Eighteen Republicans joined all voting Democrats and independents in supporting the measure. The final tally was 66-30, with four members not voting, according to C-SPAN.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
66-30: Senate votes to repeal the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs against Iraq. The bipartisan bill by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) now heads to the House. <a href="https://t.co/KEdbzh8iUW">pic.twitter.com/KEdbzh8iUW</a>
&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1641118068775567362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/316/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The bill</a> targets the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in 1991, which paved the way for military force in the Gulf War when George H.W. Bush was president, and the AUMF in 2002 that green-lit the 2003 invasion of Iraq when his son, George W. Bush, was president.
Before the legislation becomes law, it still needs approval from the Republican-controlled House and the president&#8217;s signature.
The White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/S316-SAP.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said this month</a> that President Joe Biden supports the repeal, noting that the authorization &#8220;would have no impact on current U.S. military operations and would support this Administration’s commitment to a strong and comprehensive relationship with our Iraqi partners.&#8221;
Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) <a href="https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-young-introduce-bill-to-repeal-1991_2002-aumfs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reintroduced the legislation</a> earlier this year. In a statement, they described the bill as part of an effort to &#8220;prevent the future misuse of the expired Gulf and Iraq War authorizations and strengthen Congressional oversight over war powers.&#8221;
The senators also stressed that repealing these authorities would not impact ongoing U.S. operations to counter ISIS.
Among those who opposed the repeal was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who did not vote on Wednesday. He <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-returns-home-after-treatment-for-fall-concussion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently returned home</a> after undergoing physical therapy at an inpatient center following a fall that caused a concussion and minor rib fracture.
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“I am opposed to Congress sunsetting any military force authorizations in the Middle East,&#8221; McConnell <a href="https://www.republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/while-senate-debates-aumf-iran-keeps-killing-and-wounding-americans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a statement</a>. &#8220;Our terrorist enemies aren’t sunsetting their war against us. And when we deploy our servicemembers in harm’s way, we need to supply them with all the support and legal authorities that we can.&#8221;
The <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1641118068775567362" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press noted</a> that the war authorizations have rarely been used as the basis for any presidential action. Former President Donald Trump&#8217;s White House <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-cites-2002-iraq-war-measure-to-justify-killing-soleimani-11581711789" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cited the 2002 authorization</a> to justify the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, near the Baghdad International Airport in 2020.

U.S. 3rd Division Moves Through Iraq

Senate Votes To Repeal Iraq Military Authorizations

Congress

Iraq War

National Security

Senate

U.S. Senate

After nearly 20 years in which members of the U.S. Army&#8217;s Delta Force had remained silent about the capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, retired Army Master Sergeant Kevin Holland spoke publicly of Hussein&#8217;s December 13, 2003, arrest.
<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11590235/Delta-Force-operator-breaks-silence-20-years-reveal-Saddam-Hussein-captured.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speaking</a> with former Navy SEAL Jack Carr on his program “Danger Close,” Holland, who served on the U.S. Navy&#8217;s elite SEAL Team 6 and the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, countered a claim by an Iraqi interpreter that Hussein had been found in a room praying when he was caught.
“President Bush sends his regards,” Holland recalled the soldiers who found Hussein saying. He delineated how the soldiers received intelligence regarding Hussein’s hideout on a small farm. “We had some human intel that showed us exactly where it was at,” Holland stated.
“They had a big Styrofoam plug, you know, that they would put in there and then cover it with leaves and dirt, sand, and it had a pipe for air – we had noticed it when we cleared it. Just dug it away, pulled it up, and sand fell in. &#8230; And in goes a banger,” Holland said of the grenade that was thrown inside.
“We had lights on our guns, when you looked in it, you could tell – you could see bricks, you know, where they bricked it up,” he remembered. “We know it’s something. And the guys says he’s in there.”
After the unsuccessful attempt to get a frightened dog to enter the underground den, Holland said, “We start hearing somebody talk in Arabic, and the interpreter starts talking back. And it’s like, someone’s coming — the voice is getting closer, you can tell. The sound, it’s getting closer. &#8230; hands come out of the hole, and then a big bushy head of hair. &#8216;We grab him and jerk him out, and it’s like, &#8216;That&#8217;s him.”
After yanking Hussein out of the eight-foot-deep hole, Holland said, the soldiers saw Hussein had a gun, prompting a “Big Texan” to hit him in the mouth and knock him down. “We had to make sure that he couldn’t get to that gun,” Holland noted, adding that the “fully automatic Glock- 15” is now owned by former U.S. President George W. Bush.
“He just said he was the president of Iraq and that he’s ready to negotiate, and he said that in English. And we’re like, ‘That time’s passed, brother,’” Holland said.
“You could feel he was just an evil guy,&#8217; Holland said of the Iraqi dictator, who murdered tens of thousands of Iraqis. “He had this presence about him that was very unnerving.”
American troops secretly reported finding thousands of chemical warheads, shells, and aviation bombs in Iraq, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/14/world/middleeast/us-casualties-of-iraq-chemical-weapons.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> in 2014. Many of the chemical munitions found contained potent mustard agent or residual sarin, The Times noted.

Saddam Hiding Place

‘President Bush Sends His Regards’: After Nearly 20 Years, Soldier Speaks Of Saddam Hussein’s Capture

After Nearly 20 Years, Soldier Speaks Of Saddam Hussein's Capture

Capture

George W. Bush

Saddam Hussein

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