Airstrikes target over 85 sites, marking the US response to the recent drone attack in Jordan that killed three American service members.

The United States has conducted a series of airstrikes targeting sites in Iraq and Syria linked to Iran-backed militias, following a deadly drone strike in Jordan that killed three US service members. The attacks, carried out by US Central Command, were aimed at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and its affiliated militia groups. The strikes targeted more than 85 sites, including command centers, intelligence facilities, missile storage areas, and logistical supply chains.

President Joe Biden issued a warning after the strikes, emphasizing that the US would respond to any harm directed at its personnel: “If you harm an American, we will respond.” The US military confirmed that it had hit its intended targets, with reports of secondary explosions at ammunition and logistics facilities.

The airstrikes have resulted in at least 18 deaths of Iran-backed fighters in eastern Syria, and numerous weapons depots and militia sites were destroyed across a large stretch of territory from Deir ez-Zor to Albu Kamal, near the Iraq border.

However, the Iraqi government has condemned the strikes, citing violations of its sovereignty and warning of potential instability in the region. Iraqi military spokesperson Yahya Rasool stated that the attacks could have dire consequences for both Iraq and the broader Middle East.

Despite the scale of the assault, US officials have stressed that the airstrikes were not intended to target Iran directly, a move that would significantly escalate the conflict. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin clarified that the operation is part of a larger, ongoing response to militia attacks on US and coalition forces, with additional actions planned in the coming days.