Biden announces the start of the "American response" in the Middle East, amid Iraqi-Iranian condemnation. US President Joe Biden announced that his country's forces, according to his directives, struck facilities in Iraq and Syria on Friday.
He said that the targeted facilities are being used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its affiliated militias to attack American forces. Biden continued, saying, "We do not seek conflict with Iran or in the Mideast, but we will not hesitate to defend our forces" The White House stated that Washington had informed the Iraqi side in advance of these strikes.