U.S. begins airstrikes in Iraq and Syria following deadly drone strike

By: Adam Beam 2/2/2024

President Joe Biden delivers remarks to Department of Defense personnel, with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 10, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Flickr)

The United States has officially begun airstrikes on multiple militia sites in Iraq and Syria in response to the fatal drone strike that killed three Americans last week. The drone strike was carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

In a statement on Friday, President Biden said, "This afternoon, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces. Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing."

The strikes involved a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft, targeting multiple locations believed to have been used by the militia. The first series of U.S. retaliation hit a total of 85 targets.

Earlier on Friday, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were in Delaware to join the families of the three soldiers killed as their remains returned to the U.S.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, also present in Delaware, stated, "This is the start of our response. We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the president and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces. We will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our forces, and our interests."

This story is breaking. Check our website in the coming days for further developments.