The Pentagon, headquarters of the US Department of Defense,  Arlington, VA  (credit Wikipedia)

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The U.S. conducted retaliatory airstrikes Thursday at an Iranian-backed militia in Syria that launched rocket attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq, the Pentagon confirmed.    Last week, three 107 mm rockets struck an Iraqi airbase in Irbil where U.S. forces are based, killing one non-U.S. civilian contractor and injuring a U.S. service member and others. It was the first known military offensive undertaken by the Biden administration since assuming office. 

“At President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria. These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq, and to ongoing threats to those personnel. Specifically, the strikes destroyed multiple facilities located at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups, including Kait’ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kait’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).”

-Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby

The  Pentagon spokesman said the “proportionate military response”  was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with Coalition partners. 

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby briefs the media, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

“The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq.”     – Pentagon Press Secretary Kirby said. 

U.S. Defense Secretary of State  Lloyd  Austin said:       “Let me say that I am very proud of the men and women in our force that carried out the strike. As you would expect, they performed in a very professional manner, and we are grateful for their service.”