One of the American fighter jets used to strike Syria and Iraq (Anatolia)

The US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) said on Saturday that Washington does not seek a broader war or conflict with Iran, but will continue to do what is necessary to hold those who attack its forces accountable, while diplomatic sources said that the UN Security Council will meet next Monday to discuss US strikes in the region.

Commenting on the American strikes that targeted sites in Iraq and Syria last Friday evening, the Pentagon added that the United States “feels confident” that it was able to strike the majority of the targets it wanted, and achieved the desired success, as he put it.

The Pentagon continued that it is working around the clock to hold accountable those responsible for the Jordan attack, which resulted in the death of 3 American soldiers, and was claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

The Pentagon reiterated the American assertion that the strikes that began yesterday would not be the only strikes in the region, in response to the killing of the three soldiers.

Security Council meeting

In a related development, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting next Monday regarding the strikes launched by the United States in Syria and Iraq, according to what diplomatic sources told Agence France-Presse.

The meeting will be held after Russia, a permanent member of the Council, was invited to discuss the US strikes on Syria and Iraq, saying that they ignored international law and led to civilian casualties in both countries and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the United States of deliberately exacerbating the situation in the Middle East.

Baghdad summons the Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy against the backdrop of the US bombing of sites in #Iraq#Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/FjjCLKzcnh

- Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) February 3, 2024

Summon the American ambassador

Earlier today, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned the Charge d'Affairs of the US Embassy in Baghdad, and called on the Iraqi presidency to meet with the three presidencies, to discuss the US strikes that hit sites in Iraq and Syria.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry handed over the Charge d'Affairs of the US Embassy in Baghdad an official note of protest regarding what it described as the American attack on military and civilian sites in the Akashat and Al-Qaim regions, stressing that the strikes constitute a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

She added that the American attacks yesterday will undermine the chances of success of the ongoing negotiations to regulate the work of the international coalition, will lead to escalation of tension, and threaten the security and stability of the region.

The Popular Mobilization Forces announced that 16 were killed and 36 others were injured as a result of the strikes, noting that "the search is still ongoing for the bodies of a number of missing people."

For its part, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the American strikes on its territory, and said that this attack fuels conflict in the region.

She added that the United States is the main source of global instability, considering that American forces threaten international peace and security.

While the Syrian News Agency confirmed that the American strikes resulted in the deaths of civilians and soldiers.

After the American strikes, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq today targeted, with a drone, the American “Harir” base near Erbil Airport, in the Kurdistan region in the north of the country.

It also targeted, with a drone, the American “Kharab al-Jir” base deep in Syria.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies