US Conducts Retaliatory Strikes in Syria, Iraq Following Attack in Jordan

Outlets across the spectrum are reporting that the United States military carried out a series of airstrikes on facilities linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on Friday in retaliation for an airstrike on an American base in Jordan that killed three U.S. soldiers last week. 

Key Quote: According to a statement from United States Central Command, the military “struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States. The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions. The facilities that were struck included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle storage, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces.”

Details: The US did not target any locations inside Iran, which the New York Times (Lean Left bias) attributed to the military's desire to “send a message of deterrence while carefully controlling escalation.”

For Context: On Saturday, three U.S. soldiers were killed and more than 30 were injured in a drone strike on a U.S. base in Jordan near the border with Syria. U.S. officials blamed Iran-backed militias for the attack.

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum covered the airstrikes prominently. The New York Times stated that a wider conflict “could serve Iran’s purposes.” Reuters (Center bias) stated that the strikes are “likely to increase concern about tensions escalating in the Middle East.”