The United States Armed Forces They have conducted this Monday attacks against three facilities in Iraqwhere they were supposedly pro-Iranian militiasin response to recent attacks against its military bases in the region that left three soldiers injured.

The Secretary of the United States Department of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has indicated that an attempt has been made to “necessary and proportionate attacks” under the direction of US President Joe Biden. “These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militias, including an attack by the (Iraqi Shiite militia) Kataib Hezbollah (…) against the Erbil air base,” he indicated.

The United States Central Command (Centcom) has specified that the bombings carried out took place around 8:45 p.m. and that, according to first evaluations, These airstrikes would have destroyed the facilities target “and probably killed several members of Kataib Hezbollah. Furthermore, they have stated that they have no evidence that there were any civilian victims affected.

“The necessary measures”

“These attacks are intended to hold accountable the elements directly responsible for the attacks against the forces of the coalition in Iraq and Syria, and degrade their ability to continue attacks. We will always protect our forces,” said Centcom Commander Michael Erik Kurilla.

For his part, Austin stated that the militia attack in Erbil has left three US personnel injured and one service member is in critical condition. “Let me be clear: The president and I will not hesitate to take the necessary measures to defend to the United States, our troops and our interests,” he stressed.

“While we do not seek to escalate the conflict in the region“We are committed and fully prepared to take the additional measures necessary to protect our people and our facilities,” said the head of the Pentagon. Iraqi authorities reported that a drone loaded with explosives had crashed near the Erbil airport, where He finds a military base where American and international troops are deployed.

US troops in Iraq and Syria have been the target of dozens of attacks with drones and projectiles por part of pro-Iran militias in response to Washington’s support for Israel in its offensive against the Gaza Strip after the attacks carried out on October 7 by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).