3 US service members hurt in Iraq attacks; US conducts retaliatory strikes
- Hezbollah attack hurt 3 US troops, 1 critically, US says
- Biden authorized drone strikes on Hezbollah targets
- Sec Def Austin: We do not seek to escalate conflict
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(NewsNation) — The United States carried out retaliatory strikes on Christmas on three facilities “used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups” in Iran following a series of attacks that left three U.S. service members injured, including one critically, according to a statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin.
U.S. personnel were targeted Christmas morning in what Austin described as a series of attacks in Iraq and Syria by “Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah” on Erbil Air Base.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the attack Monday morning and following a call with Austin and members of the National Security Council, he ordered strikes “against three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities,” according to NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
Austin described American military retaliation as “necessary and proportionate strikes” that were intended to “disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible.”
“And 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 wrote. “There is no higher priority.”
Following the attack, Biden held an emergency meeting with leaders at Camp David in Maryland during his Christmas stay.
Options for response were presented, leading the president to direct strike on three different locations used by the Kataib Hezbollah group and others within less than 13 hours after the attack on U.S. troops.
“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,” Austin wrote.
According to the National Counterterrorism Center, the Kataib Hezbollah group, established in 2007, aims to establish an Iran-backed government in Iraq. With 10,000 members, it received extensive training and funding from Iran’s military.