February 2024 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria

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February 2024 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria
Part of the attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria (2023–present) and spillover of the Israel–Hamas war
Date2 February 2024 – present
(6 days)
Location
Iraq and Syria
Status

Ongoing

Belligerents
 United States  Iran
Popular Mobilization Forces
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Liwa Fatemiyoun[1]
Commanders and leaders
Joe Biden
Lloyd Austin
Charles Q. Brown Jr.		 Ali Khamenei
Ebrahim Raisi
Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani
Esmail Qaani
Falih Al-Fayyadh
Qais Khazali
Akram al-Kaabi
Abu Baqir al-Saadi  †
Units involved

 United States Armed Forces

Specific units:

Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces

Iraqi Armed Forces

  • Liwa al-Tafuf[3](Paramilitary)
Kata'ib Hezbollah[4] (Paramilitary)
Casualties and losses
None

48-49 killed[a]

More than 80 of the 85 targets were destroyed or rendered inoperable (US estimate)

On 2 February 2024, the United States Air Force launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guards 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

Main article: Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria (2023–present)

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.[9] 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.[10][11]

Bombing

2 February

B-1B bombers taking off prior to the strikes

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.[12][13] 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.[2] American officials reported that the strikes hit 85 targets across seven facilities, three in Iraq and four in Syria, using 125 precision-guided missiles.[12] Of the 85 sites targeted, more than 80 were destroyed or rendered inoperable.[14]

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.[15] Iraqi officials reported that airstrikes targeted the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Akashat, killing 16 fighters.[3][6] Iraqi officials also said that three houses used by Kata'ib Hezbollah in Al Anbar Governorate were hit by airstrikes.[4]

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 29 Iran-backed militants were killed in the airstrikes in Syria.[5]

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.[16][8]

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.[1]

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.[7]

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.[18]

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."[19]

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."[20]

Microsoft reported more cyber electronic offensive action by Iranian regime.[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".[22]

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".[22][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".[24]

President Ebrahim Raisi said that Iran will not start a war, but it will "respond strongly" to anyone who bullies it.[23]

Ambassador to U.N claimed Iranian regime and its proxy forces are similar to such that of NATO.[25][26]

Iran-backed 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.[27]

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."[28]

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."[29]

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".[30]

Others

Hamas condemned the airstrikes as pouring "oil on the fire".[23]

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."[31]

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.[23]

Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said the US airstrikes were the result of Iranian proxies "playing with fire".[23]

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".[32]

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.[33]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Syria:
    • 29 on 2 February[5]
    Iraq:
    • 16[6]-17 on 2 February[7]
    • 3 killed on 7 February[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Rogoway, Tyler (3 February 2024). "Munitions Storage Site In Syria Obliterated In U.S. Airstrikes". The Warzone. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria". CENTCOM. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "America launches retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria in response to the Jordanian attack" (in Arabic). Sky News Arabia. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b Arkin, Daniel (2 February 2024). "U.S. strike in Iraq targeted weapons warehouse, sites used by Iran-linked militia". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Primary death toll | 29 members of Iranian militias killed in US airstrikes on 28 positions in Deir Ezzor". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 3 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b "16 martyrs and 25 wounded.. The Popular Mobilization Forces reveals the death toll of the American raids" (in Arabic). almorageb. 3 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b Cabral, Sam (4 February 2024). "US launches more strikes against Houthis in Yemen". BBC. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b Rasheed, Ahmed; Azhari, Timour (7 February 2024). "Kataib Hezbollah commander killed in Baghdad drone strike -sources". Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  9. ^ Carl, Nicholas; Jhaveri, Ashka; Braverman, Alexandra (28 January 2024). "Iran Update, January 28, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024. These militias have conducted over 170 attacks targeting US positions as part of this effort since October 2023.
  10. ^ Horton, Alex; Ryan, Missy; Warrick, Joby; Lamothe, Dan (29 January 2024). "U.S. mixed up enemy, friendly drones in attack that killed 3 troops". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  11. ^ Watson, Eleanor (30 January 2024). "Pentagon releases names of 3 soldiers killed in drone attack in Jordan". CBS News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b Schmitt, Eric; Cooper, Helen (2 February 2024). "Here's the latest on the U.S. strikes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. ^ "B-1 bombers were used in US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, official says". CNN. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ Schmitt, Eric (5 February 2024). "U.S. Strikes Hit Most of Targets in Iraq and Syria, Pentagon Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  15. ^ "US launches strikes in response to attack that killed troops in Jordan". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  16. ^ "USCENTCOM Conducts Strike Killing Kata'ib Hezbollah Senior Leader". CENTCOM. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Iran-related Designations and Designations Updates; Counter Terrorism Designations and Designations Updates; Non-Proliferation Designations". Office of Foreign Assets Control. 14 February 1987. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Letter to the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148)". The White House. 4 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Statement from President Joe Biden on U.S. Military Operation in the Middle East". The White House. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Statement From Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria". United States Department of Defense. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  21. ^ Shushan, Yinon Ben (7 February 2024). "Iran's AI, cyber war on Israel intensifies amid Gaza war - Microsoft". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  22. ^ a b c "Iraq says 16 people, including civilians, killed in 'new US aggression'". Al Jazeera. 3 February 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees; Azhari, Timour (3 February 2024). "U.S. launches strikes in Iraq, Syria, nearly 40 reported killed". Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.
  24. ^ a b "'Strategic error': Iran condemns US attacks on Iraq, Syria". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  25. ^ Simmons, Keir; Abbas, Mo; Luce, Dan De; Mulligan, Matthew (6 February 2024). "Iran goes public with stark warning over suspected spy ship as U.S. refuses to rule out more strikes". NBC News. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Iran's U.N. ambassador likens ties to militant groups to NATO alliance". NBC News. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  27. ^ "We can respond to the sources of fire In conjunction with the strikes, Al-Walaei warns Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia" (in Arabic). +964. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  28. ^ Jamal, Urooba. "Dozens killed as Israeli army intensifies attacks on Gaza's Rafah". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Iran-update-february-5-2024". Institute for the Study of War. 5 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  30. ^ "'Overshadow Gaza crimes': World reacts to US attacks on Iraq and Syria". Al Jazeera. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  31. ^ Jamal, Urooba. "Dozens killed as Israeli army intensifies attacks on Gaza's Rafah". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  32. ^ Jamal, Urooba. "Dozens killed as Israeli army intensifies attacks on Gaza's Rafah". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Russia and China slam US for Middle East strikes". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
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