US Soldier "Critical" After Attack on Iraq Base: Report (image X @CENTCOM)
Adrienne Watson, United States National Security Council spokeswoman said one of the three soldiers that were injured during an attack from the Iranian-backed fighter in the northern Iraq, is suffering from critical injuries, as reported by AP news agency. The attack against the US force in Iraq’s Erbil was targeted by one-way drone earlier on Monday.
On Tuesday, the US launched what it called a retaliatory attack against its target in Iraq which is linked to Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated group. The group had claimed responsibility for the drone attack on US forces in Erbil.
“These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks. We will always protect our forces”, said US General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, in a statement.
U.S. CENTCOM conducts strikes against Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group targets in Iraq
In response to multiple attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes against multiple facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups… pic.twitter.com/mmL4WqFXq9
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 26, 2023
The US’ retaliatory attack is said to be carried out upon direction from President Joe Biden, US Secretary of Defense, Llyod J. Austin on in a statement.
Today, at @POTUS’ direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary & proportionate strikes on 3 facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah & affiliated groups in Iraq. These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq & Syria by…
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) December 26, 2023
The wounding of the US soldiers came after the months of tensions that posed threats against the US forces in Iraq and Syria by groups who are in support of Hamas resistance group amid Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and America’s political and military support towards Israel.
The back-and-forth attacks between the US and other groups in support of Hamas is the demonstration of how the Israel-Hamas war is reverberating across the Middle East. Pentagon did not disclosed the identity of the critically wounded soldier or details about the injuries. The details about how the drone managed to penetrate US base’s air defenses was also not revealed.
Reuters said the US military in Iraq and Syria, which was deployed to avoid a resurgence of Islamic State militants, has already faced around 100 attacks in Syria and Iraq since the beginning of current Israel-Hamas war. The attacks were reported to be a mix of rockets and one-way attack drones.
