US Strikes Iran-Backed Militia After Iraq Air Base Attack

U.S. forces carried out strikes Monday targeting Iran-backed militias in Iraq in response to a drone attack that injured three U.S. service members.

The U.S. strikes were directed at three locations used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

“These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today, and intended to disrupt and degrade capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible.”

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said Kataib Hezbollah, as part of an umbrella group of Iran-backed militants, claimed credit for the Monday attack and that one of the U.S. service members was critically hurt.

The Iraqi government objected to the U.S. airstrikes, calling them a “hostile act” and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.