As tensions in the Middle East continue to grow, the U.S. announced that its forces used precision airstrikes to hit targets in Yemen and Iraq on Tuesday, Jan. 23. According to U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces conducted strikes in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen after locating two Houthi anti-ship missiles aimed at the Southern Red Sea, determining they posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and Navy ships.
Meanwhile, at the direction of President Joe Biden, U.S. forces conducted strikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed groups, including the Kataib Hezbollah Militia, in response to an attack on U.S. forces that injured four Americans at al-Asad Airbase on Saturday, Jan. 20.
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According to reports, the militia group launched a barrage of missiles at the base, two of which made it through defense systems, making it the most serious attack on the base this year by the militia group. According to Central Command, U.S. strikes hit the Iranian-backed militia group’s headquarters, training facilities, and some munitions storage areas.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes are the result of escalating attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.
“These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias,” Austin said.
Still, in a statement, the Iraqi prime minister called the strikes an “irresponsible escalation” and considered them to be “hostile acts.” With the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of groups that fall under Iraqi military authority said the strike near the Syrian border in Iraq killed one of its fighters and injured two others.
AS TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST CONTINUE TO GROW, THE U-S ANNOUNCED IT HAS STRUCK MORE TARGETS IN YEMEN AND IRAQ.
U-S FORCES CONDUCTED STRIKES IN HOUTHI CONTROLLED AREAS OF YEMEN AFTER LOCATING TWO ANTI-SHIP MISSILES AIMED AT THE SOUTHERN RED SEA AND DETERMINING THEY POSED AN IMMINENT THREAT TO MERCHANT VESSELS AND NAVY SHIPS.
MEANWHILE, AT THE DIRECTION OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, U-S FORCES CONDUCTED STRIKES IN IRAQ TARGETING IRAN-BACKED GROUPS INCLUDING KATAIB (KAH–TIBE) HEZBOLLAH N RESPONSE TO AN ATTACK THAT INJURED FOUR AMERICANS AT AN AIRBASE ON SATURDAY.
THE GROUP WAS SAID TO HAVE LAUNCHED A BARRAGE OF MISSILES AT THE BASE, TWO OF WHICH MADE IT THROUGH AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS.
ACCORDING TO CENTRAL COMMAND, U-S STRIKES HIT KATAIB HEZBOLLAH HEADQUARTERS, TRAINING FACILITIES, AND SOME MUNITIONS STORAGE AREAS.
THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER RESPONDED TO THE STRIKES — CALLING THEM AN IRRESPONSIBLE ESCALATION AND CONSIDERING THEM TO BE HOSTILE ACTS.
U-S OFFICIALS DEFENDED THE MISSION AS U-S FORCES PROTECTING THEMSELVES.
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