Washington, June 28, (dpa/GNA) – US President Joe Biden ordered airstrikes against Iran-backed militia groups in the Iraq-Syria border region on Sunday.
The targeted facilities were used by Iran-backed militias engaged in drone attacks against US personnel and facilities in Iraq, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement.
Two locations in Syria and one in Iraq – both close to the border between the two countries – were targeted.
The Pentagon said the locations were operational and weapons storage facilities used by several Iran-backed groups including Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada.
“As demonstrated by this evening’s strikes, President Biden has been clear that he will act to protect U.S. personnel. Given the ongoing series of attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting U.S. interests in Iraq, the President directed further military action to disrupt and deter such attacks,” Kirby said.
In his first military retaliation as president in February, Biden ordered strikes on Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria in response to rocket attacks against American and coalition personnel at a base in Iraq.
GNA