US Air Strikes Hit 85 Iran-Backed Militia Targets in Syria & Iraq, Killing At least 18 Militants

At least 18 militias were killed in the US military’s retaliatory air strikes on 85 targets linked to Iranian forces and Tehran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria on Friday. These US attacks followed the deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan.

The United States blamed the Sunday drone attack on Iran-backed forces but did not strike the country’s territory in response, with Washington seeking to deter future attacks while stopping short of all-out war with Tehran — something both sides have sought to avoid.

The strikes killed at least 18 pro-Iran fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that at least 26 major sites housing pro-Iranian groups were destroyed in Syria, including weapons depots.

“Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.

The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond,” he added.

Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces.

We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world.

But to all those who seek to do us harm: We will respond.

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 2, 2024

“These US air strikes targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force as well as militia groups attached to them,” with American forces hitting “more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

“The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions,” CENTCOM said, adding that the targets included command and control and intelligence centers as well as rocket, missile and drone storage facilities belonging to militia groups and Iranian forces “who facilitated attacks against US and coalition forces.”

CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria

At 4:00 p.m. (EST) Feb. 02, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces… pic.twitter.com/HeLMFDx9zY

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 2, 2024