The United States carried out air raids (FT) on facilities used by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria in response to drone attacks on U.S. interests in Iraq, the Pentagon said. They were the second round of retaliatory attacks against Iran-backed militias since U.S. President Joe Biden took office.
Multiple people were reportedly killed (AP), though the death toll varies. The targeted facilities belonged to militant groups, including Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, which vowed revenge for the attacks in a joint statement. Iraq’s military spokesperson called the U.S. strikes a “breach of sovereignty” (Reuters). The attacks could complicate ongoing negotiations on bringing the United States and Iran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.
