In Syria, civilians have been killed and injured as a result of US airstrikes. This was reported by the SANA agency with reference to a statement by the SAR Ministry of Defense.
“American occupying forces today committed overt air aggression against a number of positions and cities in eastern Syria and near the Syrian-Iraqi borders, resulting in a number of civilians and military deaths, some wounded, and extensive damage to public and private property,” the statement said.
As the Syrian Defense Ministry added, the American airstrikes “have no justification and are an attempt to weaken the capabilities of the Syrian army and its allies in the fight against terrorism.” It is indicated that in the area that was subjected to American attacks, the Syrian army is fighting the remnants of the terrorist organization “Islamic State”*.
“This confirms that the United States and its armed forces are participating in this and are allies of the organization and are working with all their might to revive it as a unit in both Syria and Iraq,” the Syrian Ministry of Defense emphasized.
As follows from a statement by the command of the Shiite militia Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, as a result of American aggression in Iraq, 16 people were killed and 25 were injured.
The official representative of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Yahya Rasoul, also warned Washington that American airstrikes could lead to catastrophic consequences.
“The city of Al-Qaim and the border areas of Iraq are being targeted by US air strikes at a time when Iraq is seeking to ensure stability in the region. “They represent a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, undermining the efforts of the Iraqi government and a threat that could result in unforeseen catastrophic consequences for security and stability for Iraq and the region,” RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
As the agency's source in the Iraqi security services noted, according to preliminary information, one civilian was killed and another was injured in the Al-Qaim area in Anbar province in the west of the country.
On the night of February 3, the US Armed Forces fired more than 125 shells at 85 targets in Iraq and Syria. According to the US Central Command, we are talking about facilities used by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and militant groups sponsored by it. We are talking about control centers, headquarters buildings, intelligence centers, missile storage facilities and drones, and other facilities involved in ensuring the operation of ammunition supply chains for the IRGC and its allied forces in Iraq and Syria.
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“These targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties and were based on clear and compelling evidence that they were associated with attacks on U.S. personnel in the region,” said John Kirby, White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator.
According to the Pentagon's Joint Staff Director of Operations Douglas Sims, there will most likely be casualties among the people who use these facilities.
As White House President Joe Biden said, the United States began launching strikes in the Middle East in response to a drone attack on a US base in northeast Jordan, which occurred on January 28. Three American soldiers were killed and more than 40 were injured.
“Our response began today. It will continue when and where we choose. The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let anyone who may intend to harm us know that if you harm an American, we will respond,” the US president said in a statement.
In turn, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin stressed that the United States has taken measures to hold the IRGC and associated paramilitary forces accountable for their attacks on American and coalition forces. According to him, the United States will continue to take “necessary actions to protect the United States, its forces and interests.”