The United States reportedly killed nearly 40 individuals by launching airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against over 85 targets associated with the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) of Iran and militias it supports, as retaliation for a deadly attack on American troops.
These locations saw the first U.S. military operations in response to the attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan last weekend, with additional operations anticipated in the coming days.
Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, described how the United States made an additional adventurous and strategic error that will only lead to heightened tensions and instability.
Iraq summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires in Baghdad to protest.
The Popular Mobilization Forces of Iraq, an Iranian-backed state security force, reported the death of sixteen of its members, including medics and combatants. According to the government, sixteen of the deceased were civilians, an earlier estimate.
The strikes killed 23 guards at the targeted locations in Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
U.S. Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, Joint Staff Director, said the attacks appeared successful, causing large secondary explosions as the bombs hit militant weaponry. He said the strikes were intentional because there would likely be casualties at the facilities.
The Pentagon has stated that it does not want war with Iran and does not believe Tehran does either, despite the strikes.
