February 2024 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria explained

February 2024 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria
Partof:the attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria (2023–present) and spillover of the Israel–Hamas war
Location:Iraq and Syria
Target:
Liwa al-Tafuf
Popular Mobilization Forces
Kata'ib Hezbollah
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Liwa Fatemiyoun
Date:2–7 February 2024
Executed By: United States
Outcome:
  • US conducts 125 airstrikes targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied militias
  • More than 80 of the 85 targets were destroyed or rendered inoperable (US claim)
  • Iran-backed groups halt attacks on US forces[1]
Fatalities:54–55

On 2 February 2024, the United States Air Force launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran-backed militia groups located in Iraq and Syria. The attack was launched in retaliation against a drone strike carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeting US troops in Jordan the week before, which killed three U.S. troops.

Background

See main article: Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria during the Israel–Hamas war. Since the onset of the Israel–Hamas war on 7 October 2023, militia groups supported by Iran have executed more than 170 attacks on US bases in Iraq, Jordan and Syria.[2] These attacks have resulted in injuries to dozens of troops. On 28 January 2024, a Shahed 136 drone strike carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted Tower 22, a US base in Jordan, resulting in the deaths of three US troops and causing injuries to 47 others.[3] [4]

Bombing

2 February

Around midnight between 2 and 3 February local time (UTC+3), the United States Air Force carried out airstrikes targeting Iran-affiliated militia groups in Iraq and Syria. The operation involved two B-1B bombers deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.[5] [6] The targeted facilities included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle storage, as well as logistics and munition supply chain facilities belonging to militia groups.[7] American officials reported that the strikes hit 85 targets across seven facilities, three in Iraq and four in Syria, using 125 precision-guided missiles. Of the 85 sites targeted, more than 80 were destroyed or rendered inoperable.[8] The 15,000-mile round trip required 44 hours flying time from Texas.[9]

Iraqi security officials reported that six airstrikes targeted a number of locations in Iraq, while Syrian state media announced that "American aggression" struck a number of sites in Syria's desert areas and the Iraq–Syria border.[10] Iraqi officials reported that airstrikes targeted the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Akashat, killing 16 fighters.[11] [12] Iraqi officials also said that three houses used by Kata'ib Hezbollah in Al Anbar Governorate were hit by airstrikes.[13]

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 35 Iran-backed militants were killed in the airstrikes in Syria.[14]

7 February

At 9:30 p.m. local time, the United States conducted a drone strike on a vehicle in Baghdad, resulting in the death of three Kata'ib Hezbollah militants, among them senior commander Abu Baqir al-Saadi.[15] The attack was denounced by the Iraqi government, saying that the US-led military coalition in Iraq is becoming a "factor for instability".[16]

Aftermath

The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on several individuals affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[17]

Satellite imagery by Planet Labs revealed the extensive destruction of a facility utilized by the Liwa Fatemiyoun militia in the town of Ayyash, near Deir Ez-Zor in Syria. The facility was targeted and subsequently obliterated by B-1B bombers.[18]

In Iraq, a funeral was held in Baghdad for 17 militiamen killed by the airstrikes on 4 February, with crowds chanting "America is the greatest devil" and holding pictures of the victims besides the ambulances transporting their remains.

On 4 February, U.S. president Joe Biden announced the intention to direct additional measures, including against the IRGC and IRGC-affiliated personnel and facilities, as appropriate, to address the series of attacks against United States forces and facilities.[19]

Reactions

United States

President Joe Biden wrote in a statement that their response to the drone attack in Jordan had begun and would "continue at times and places of our choosing."[20]

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin referred to the strikes as "the start of our response" and that Biden had "directed additional actions to hold the IRGC and affiliated militias accountable for their attacks on U.S. and Coalition Forces."[21]

Iraq

The Iraqi government condemned the attacks, calling it a "new aggression" against its sovereignty.[22] Iraq summoned the U.S. charge d'affaires in Baghdad to deliver a formal protest.[23]

Syria

The Syrian Ministry of Defence slammed the "aggression of the American occupation forces", which it said was attempting "to weaken the ability of the Syrian Arab Army and its allies in the field of fighting terrorism".

Iran

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks, calling it a "strategic error by the US government which will have no result but to intensify ... instability in the region".[24] Foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said the attacks were a "violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, international law, and a clear violation of the United Nations Charter".

President Ebrahim Raisi said that Iran will not start a war, but it will "respond strongly" to anyone who bullies it.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations claimed that Iran and its allied militias were comparable to that of NATO.[25]

Iraqi militias

The leader of the Iraqi Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada militia group called on Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia not to allow the United States to use their territory to launch attacks, saying that militias would target the source of the attacks.[26]

The spokesperson for Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, Hussein al-Mosawi, said that the US "must understand that every action elicits a reaction" and also saying that "We do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions."[27]

The Chairman of the Popular Mobilization Commission Falih Al-Fayyadh said that the US airstrikes went "too far" because they targeted a Popular Mobilization Forces facility, saying that attacking it was crossing the "red line" and that US strikes will not go "unnoticed."[28]

Others

Hezbollah condemned the attacks, calling it a "blatant violation of the sovereignty of the two countries" and an "attack on their security and territorial integrity".[29]

Hamas condemned the airstrikes as pouring "oil on the fire".

Palestinian Islamic Jihad condemned the attacks, calling the attacks "blatant American aggression" in the interest of “Western colonialism and the Zionist entity", the group also stated that it “salutes to the revolutionary Iraqi and Syrian peoples who, along with the Yemeni and Lebanese peoples, are paying the price for their support of our Palestinian people in resisting the war of genocide."[27]

The United Kingdom called the United States its "steadfast" ally and said that it supports the United States' right to respond to the attacks on its bases.

Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said the US airstrikes were the result of Iranian proxies "playing with fire".

Russia condemned the attacks, The Russian foreign ministry said that the US was "sowing chaos and destruction” in the Middle East. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that "It is obvious that the air strikes are deliberately designed to further inflame the conflict".[27]

China condemned the attacks. Beijing's ambassador Zhang Jun said that "The US military actions are undoubtedly stoking new turmoil in this region and further intensifying tensions" at the UN.[30]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Iraqi armed groups dial down U.S. attacks on request of Iran commander . 2 March 2024 . Reuters . 18 February 2024.
  2. Web site: Carl . Nicholas . Jhaveri . Ashka . Braverman . Alexandra . 28 January 2024 . Iran Update, January 28, 2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235046/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-january-28-2024 . 28 January 2024 . 29 January 2024 . . These militias have conducted over 170 attacks targeting US positions as part of this effort since October 2023..
  3. News: Horton . Alex . Ryan . Missy . Warrick . Joby . Lamothe . Dan . 29 January 2024 . U.S. mixed up enemy, friendly drones in attack that killed 3 troops . live . https://archive.today/20240129223046/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/29/jordan-drone-attack-us-confusion/ . 29 January 2024 . 29 January 2024 . The Washington Post.
  4. News: Watson . Eleanor . 30 January 2024 . Pentagon releases names of 3 soldiers killed in drone attack in Jordan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202200130/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/soldiers-killed-jordan-names/ . 2 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . CBS News.
  5. News: Schmitt . Eric . Cooper . Helen . 2 February 2024 . Here's the latest on the U.S. strikes . live . The New York Times . 2 February 2024 . 5 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205093431/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/us/politics/us-strikes-iranian-proxies.html .
  6. News: B-1 bombers were used in US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, official says . 2 February 2024 . CNN . 2 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203000401/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-02-24/h_123c0971104310219a6e060faf3aa8af . live .
  7. News: CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria . 2 February 2024 . CENTCOM . 2 February 2024 . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202222050/https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3665602/centcom-statement-on-us-strikes-in-iraq-and-syria/ . live .
  8. News: Schmitt . Eric . 5 February 2024 . U.S. Strikes Hit Most of Targets in Iraq and Syria, Pentagon Says . 6 February 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206094218/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/05/us/politics/us-strikes-iraq-syria.html . live .
  9. News: Diver . Tony . Inside Cold War bombers' 15,000 mile round-trip to strike back at Iran . 9 February 2024 . The Telegraph . 2 February 2024.
  10. Web site: US launches strikes in response to attack that killed troops in Jordan . 2 February 2024 . Al Jazeera . en . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202225145/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/2/us-launches-strikes-in-response-to-attack-that-killed-troops-in-jordan . live .
  11. News: America launches retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria in response to the Jordanian attack . 2 February 2024 . Sky News Arabia . 2 February 2024 . Arabic . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202213608/https://www.skynewsarabia.com/middle-east/1690378-%D8%A7%D9%94%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%86-%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%94%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86 . live .
  12. News: 16 martyrs and 25 wounded.. The Popular Mobilization Forces reveals the death toll of the American raids . 3 February 2024 . almorageb . 3 February 2024 . Arabic . 4 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204042552/https://almorageb.com/lifestyle/16-%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D9%8825-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%AD%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9/ . live .
  13. News: Arkin . Daniel . U.S. strike in Iraq targeted weapons warehouse, sites used by Iran-linked militia . 2 February 2024 . NBC News . 2 February 2024 . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202084123/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna136897#rcrd32894 . live .
  14. News: Death toll update Five members of Iranian-backed militias killed in US airstrikes on Deir Ezzor, bringing the number of deaths to nearly 35 . 23 February 2024 . Syrian Observatory for Human Rights . 21 February 2024.
  15. News: 7 February 2024 . USCENTCOM Conducts Strike Killing Kata'ib Hezbollah Senior Leader . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207223349/https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3669808/uscentcom-conducts-strike-killing-kataib-hezbollah-senior-leader/ . 7 February 2024 . 8 February 2024 . CENTCOM.
  16. Web site: Iraq condemns 'clear-cut assassination' operation after US strike . 2024-02-09 . Al Jazeera . en.
  17. Web site: Iran-related Designations and Designations Updates; Counter Terrorism Designations and Designations Updates; Non-Proliferation Designations . Office of Foreign Assets Control . 14 February 1987 . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203035956/https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20240202 . live .
  18. News: Rogoway . Tyler . 3 February 2024 . Munitions Storage Site In Syria Obliterated In U.S. Airstrikes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203201605/https://www.twz.com/news-features/iranian-backed-militias-munitions-storage-site-in-syria-totally-obliterated . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . The Warzone.
  19. Web site: 4 February 2024 . Letter to the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206040050/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/02/04/letter-to-the-speaker-of-the-house-and-president-pro-tempore-of-the-senate-consistent-with-the-war-powers-resolution-public-law-93-148-13/ . 6 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . The White House . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2 February 2024 . Statement from President Joe Biden on U.S. Military Operation in the Middle East . 2 February 2024 . The White House . en-US . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202235836/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/02/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-u-s-military-operation-in-the-middle-east/ . live .
  21. News: Statement From Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria . 2 February 2024 . United States Department of Defense . 2 February 2024 . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202225830/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3665642/statement-from-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-us-strikes-in-iraq-an/ . live .
  22. Web site: 3 February 2024 . Iraq says 16 people, including civilians, killed in 'new US aggression' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203105730/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/3/us-warns-of-more-retaliatory-strikes-as-it-hits-iraq-syria-amid-gaza-war . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . Al Jazeera . en.
  23. News: Stewart . Phil . Ali . Idrees . Azhari . Timour . 3 February 2024 . U.S. launches strikes in Iraq, Syria, nearly 40 reported killed . live . https://archive.today/20240203220510/https://www.reuters.com/world/us-launches-retaliatory-strikes-iraq-syria-nearly-40-reported-killed-2024-02-03/ . 3 February 2024 . Reuters.
  24. Web site: 'Strategic error': Iran condemns US attacks on Iraq, Syria . 3 February 2024 . Al Jazeera . en . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203105750/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/3/strategic-error-iran-condemns-us-attacks-on-iraq-syria . live .
  25. Web site: 7 February 2024 . Iran's U.N. ambassador likens ties to militant groups to NATO alliance . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207192954/https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/iran-s-u-n-ambassador-likens-ties-to-militant-groups-to-nato-alliance-203739717995 . 7 February 2024 . 8 February 2024 . NBC News . en.
  26. News: We can respond to the sources of fire In conjunction with the strikes, Al-Walaei warns Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia . 2 February 2024 . +964 . 2 February 2024 . Arabic . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202225106/https://964media.com/306105/ . live .
  27. Web site: Jamal . Urooba . Dozens killed as Israeli army intensifies attacks on Gaza's Rafah . 3 February 2024 . Al Jazeera . en . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203055711/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/3/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-strikes-drive-fears-of-gaza-war-spillover . live .
  28. Web site: 5 February 2024 . Iran-update-february-5-2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206052212/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-february-5-2024 . 6 February 2024 . 6 February 2024 . Institute for the Study of War.
  29. Web site: 3 February 2024 . 'Overshadow Gaza crimes': World reacts to US attacks on Iraq and Syria . 7 February 2024 . Al Jazeera . en.
  30. Web site: Russia and China slam US for Middle East strikes . 6 February 2024 . Al Jazeera . en . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206104259/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/6/china-and-russia-slam-us-strikes-on-iraq-syria-at-un . live .

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