The US has launched a series of air strikes on Iran-backed targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, in a show of force that has sparked outrage and defiance from its adversaries. The White House said the strikes were just “the beginning, not the end” of its response to Iran’s involvement in a deadly drone attack on US troops in Jordan last week.
The US and its ally Britain targeted 36 sites in Yemen on Saturday, hitting weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers and other capabilities used by the Houthis, a rebel group that has been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. The Houthis, who have also fired rockets and drones at Israel and Saudi Arabia, denounced the strikes as “aggression” and vowed to retaliate.
The strikes in Yemen came a day after the US military hit facilities used by Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliated militia groups in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon said the strikes were in retaliation for the death of three US soldiers and two British soldiers in a drone attack on a military base in Jordan on Wednesday. The attack was claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group that the US says is backed by Iran.
The US accuses Iran of having its “fingerprints” on the attack and said the drone was Iranian-made. Iran denies any involvement and says the US strikes are a “strategic mistake” that will only fuel more violence in the region.
The US has warned that it will take further action against Iran and its proxies, saying it will not tolerate any attacks on its forces or interests. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC on Sunday that the US intends to take “additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked.”
President Joe Biden said in a letter to Congress on Sunday that he had directed the strikes to deter future attacks and to protect US personnel and allies. He also said he would “direct additional measures, including against the IRGC and IRGC-affiliated personnel and facilities, as appropriate.”
The US retaliation has drawn condemnation from the Iraqi and Syrian governments, who said the strikes violated their sovereignty and international law. Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said the strikes were “unacceptable” and called for dialogue to avoid escalation. Syria’s Foreign Ministry said the strikes were a “flagrant violation” of its territorial integrity and a “dangerous escalation” that could lead to a regional war.
The strikes have also raised concerns about the fate of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which the US withdrew from in 2018 and has been trying to revive through indirect talks in Vienna. The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Iran has said it will not negotiate under pressure and has warned that the US strikes could jeopardize the talks. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Saturday that the US “must stop its interventionist and destabilizing policies in the region and respect the rights and interests of the regional nations.”
The US says it remains committed to the diplomatic process and hopes to reach an agreement with Iran before the June 18 presidential election in Iran, which could bring a more hardline leader to power. The US also says it wants to address Iran’s regional activities and missile program, which are not covered by the JCPOA.
US strikes have highlighted the complex and volatile situation in the Middle East, where Iran and its allies are engaged in a proxy war with Saudi Arabia and its allies, and where Israel and the US are facing threats from Palestinian militants in Gaza and Lebanon. The strikes have also shown the challenges and risks that the Biden administration faces in dealing with Iran and its proxies, as well as the potential consequences for regional stability and security.
