Joe Biden’s tough rhetoric comes in response to rising tensions in the Middle East.
Washington:
After the attacks in Iraq and Syria, US President Joe Biden issued a statement saying that the United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East, but if any Americans are harmed, the United States will respond.
The US president’s tough remarks came in response to rising tensions in the Middle East.
According to CNN, the United States has launched air strikes on militia positions in Iraq and Syria.
“The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let anyone who might try to harm us know this: If you harm Americans, we will respond,” the US president said.
It marked the beginning of a series of larger attacks targeting Iranian-backed militias involved in attacks on U.S. forces in the region. Two U.S. officials confirmed that these retaliatory measures had begun.
“Last Sunday, three U.S. soldiers were killed in Jordan by drones launched by militant groups backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Earlier today, I attended the funeral of these brave Americans at Dover Air Force Base. Dignity returned and I spoke with each of their families,” Biden added.
“This afternoon, at my direction, U.S. forces attacked targets in Iraq and Syria used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated militias to attack U.S. forces. Our response begins today. It will continue at a time and place of our choosing Proceed,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command said the U.S. conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria “targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and its affiliated militias.”
The targets were spread across seven locations, CNN reported, citing two U.S. Defense Department officials.
A Central Command statement said, “U.S. forces struck more than 85 targets, including numerous aircraft flying from the United States, including long-range bombers. The strikes involved more than 125 precision munitions. Facilities attacked included command and control operations, militia Centers for the group and its IRGC sponsors, intelligence centers, rocket and missile depots, drone warehouses, and logistics and ammunition supply chain facilities that facilitate attacks against U.S. and coalition forces.”
U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers were involved in Friday’s airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, a defense official told CNN.
The B-1 is a long-range heavy bomber capable of deploying precision and non-precision weapons.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also issued a statement after the attacks in Iraq and Syria, calling the attacks “the beginning of our response.”
“The president has directed additional actions to control the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] Austin said in a statement, “These attacks will occur at a time and place of our choosing. We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. troops.”
He also said: “We will take any action necessary to defend the United States, our troops and our interests.”
On Sunday, Iranian-backed militants launched a drone attack on a U.S. military post in Jordan, killing three U.S. service members and injuring more than 40 others.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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