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The US has approved plans for a series of strikes on alleged Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq, BBC reported on Thursday citing US officials.
Officials have announced that the strikes will occur over several days, with the timing likely dependent on prevailing weather conditions. This decision follows a drone attack near the Syrian border that claimed the lives of three US soldiers on Sunday.
The United States attributes the attack to an Iranian-backed militia group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, suspected of comprising various militias armed, funded, and trained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards force. This group has claimed responsibility for the strike, which left 41 other US troops injured at the military base known as Tower 22.
Despite the accusations, Iran has denied any involvement in the attack. At a news conference on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asserted that the United States would not tolerate assaults on American troops. He emphasized the commitment to taking all necessary actions to safeguard the nation, its interests, and its citizens, adding that responses would be determined by the US on a “where, when, and how” basis.
While the precise timeline for potential strikes was not disclosed by officials speaking to CBS News, they noted the possibility of launching them in adverse weather conditions. However, they expressed a preference for optimal visibility to minimize the risk of unintentionally harming civilians.
Despite repeated assurances from President Joe Biden and other defense officials that the US intends to respond to the drone attack, they have emphasized that Washington is not seeking a broader conflict with Iran or an escalation of tensions in the region.
