U.S. conducts airstrike against Iranian-backed militia in Baghdad
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The U.S. military carried out on Tuesday an airstrike in a location south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad as reported by two American officials.
The ABC reported citing a U.S. official that American forces conducted “a defensive airstrike” in Musayib in Babil Governorate, “targeting combatants attempting to launch one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWAUAS).”
“Based on recent attacks in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Central Command assessed that the OWAUAS posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition Forces,” the official said.
On Tuesday, Iraqi officials reported explosions in an area that is known as a center for the Popular Mobilization Forces, which is Iranian-backed militia.
This airstrike is the first conducted by the U.S. in Iraq since February.
The latest U.S. airstrike killed a leader of an Iranian-backed militia in February, which was responsible for carrying out nearly 170 rocket and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria.
A U.S. official stated that the airstrike on Tuesday demonstrated America’s dedication to safeguarding its personnel. The official emphasized that the U.S. has “the inherent right to self-defense and will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
Meanwhile in Syria, Iranian-backed militias targeted U.S. military bases located in the Conoco gas field in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.
In response, the U.S.-led Global Coalition forces carried out strikes on positions in the vicinity of the city as reported by the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen news website.