The Pentagon said it launched airstrikes in Iraq on Monday night, targeting three facilities used by the Shia militia Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliates after a drone attack on a US base wounded three American troops, leaving one in critical condition.
The Iraqi government strongly condemned the US airstrikes as “an unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty” and said one security serviceman was killed and 18 other people were injured, including civilians. Iraqi sources told Reuters that one Kataib Hezbollah fighter was killed in the strike.
Kataib Hezbollah is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a state-sponsored coalition of mostly Shia Iraqi militias that was formed in 2014 to fight ISIS.
The Iraqi government also condemned attacks on US forces but wants the US to cooperate with it to find the perpetrators rather than launch unilateral airstrikes. “It is a clearly hostile, unconstructive act that does not serve the interests of long-term common interests,” the government said of the US strikes.
Since mid-October, US forces have come under attack over 100 times in Iraq and Syria due to President Biden’s full-throated support for the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. An umbrella group of Iraqi Shia militias known as the Islamic Resistance of Iraq has taken credit for most of the attacks, including the one that wounded three US troops on Monday, which targeted a base in Erbil.
The US has launched several rounds of airstrikes against Shia militias in Iraq and Syria since October, but they have not deterred the groups from launching more attacks. Al Mayadeen reported that another attack targeted a US base in Syria on Tuesday.
I see no role for the American Centurions in Iraq beyond maintaining a threatening presence aimed at the Iranian government. Same goes for the American presence in Syria.
Disgusting arrogant behavior by the US and Israel that think they have carte blanche right to bomb wherever they want simply because they can.
Yeah, but what’s new?
Total waste of time. Either countries must get it on or stop throwing the Iraqi Backstreet Boys against a super power.
Like our big daddy, Israel, we are occupiers. Any excuse to kill innocents and call it “rules based order”. Thucydides: The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must. So it goes.
Thank you Dave DeCamp. No where did I read “Iranian backed”.
The US doesn’t have “long-term common interests,” even with it’s own people.
The sheer hubris of America. It illegally occupies a nation (Syria), steals that nations resources (oil) and the has the gall to justify bombing another nation (Iraq) so it can continue its illegal occupation and theft.
The rigged election on Nov 3 2020 robbed the US of all legitimacy. Except for remaining US vassal and slave states, everywhere else it’s all been downhill for the US. Deterrence, prestige and power projection has drained away – globally.
These attacks won’t stop. In fact they’ll intensify and become more lethal. America should get the hell out of Syria before things become even more humiliating for them.
That is just a tad cynical Scipio but certainly true!
Lets’ get this straight
1.”Kataib Hezbollah is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a state-sponsored coalition of mostly Shia Iraqi militias that was formed in 2014 to fight ISIS.”
2. Fighting against ISIS seems to be a common purpose of the Kataib Hezbollah and the US.
So the Iraq position makes sense:
3. “The Iraqi government also condemned attacks on US forces but wants the US to cooperate with it to find the perpetrators rather than launch unilateral airstrikes. “It is a clearly hostile, unconstructive act that does not serve the interests of long-term common interests,” the government said of the US strikes.”
Rome does not ask permission from barbarians
Rome will be be obeyed or the legions will march
Killing Iraqi civilians may not be a successful strategy as it will only prompt more attacks and solidify support for the militias
If you can’t beat Russian in a proxy war just attack tribal people who have no air defenses; by drone strikes well out of range.