US launch airstrikes against 85 Iran proxies in Iraq, Syria

The US launched airstrikes against 85 targets believed to be proxies of Iran Revolutionary Guard that killed 40 people in retaliation to the deadly strikes on US troops in Jordan last week.

The air strikes targeted proxies in Iraq and Syria.

For the first time, US used long – range B-1 bombers, Reuters reported.

Responding to the strikes, Iran foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the attacks marks “another adventurous and strategic mistake by the United States that will result only in increased tension and instability”.

Baghdad hauled up US charge d’affaires in protest.

“Iraq reiterated its refusal that its lands be an arena for settling scores or showing force between warring countries,” the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement.

The strikes in Syria killed 23.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after the strikes that Biden had directed additional action against the IRGC and those linked to it. “This is the start of our response,” Austin said.

“We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the president and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces,” Austin said.

The US views groups such as Houthis, Hamas and several other groups as Iran’s proxies.