On the morning of the 3rd, Japan time, the United States announced that it had taken retaliatory measures for the January attack in Jordan that killed three American soldiers.
According to the report, the US military conducted airstrikes against the Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps operating in Iraq and Syria, as well as armed groups associated with it.
The Iraqi government said 16 people, including several civilians, were killed in the airstrike, while Syrian human rights groups said 29 people were killed. There are voices of opposition from the countries involved.
"International Report 2023" Caster Hideki Yui's commentary. (Broadcast on February 5th)
*The video is 4 minutes 07 seconds long and cannot be viewed on data broadcasting.
US airstrikes on bases of ``pro-Iranian armed groups''
Over the past three days, the Biden administration has stepped up its military offensive against the Iranian-backed militant group Axis of Resistance.
First, on the 2nd, airstrikes struck more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, including strongholds of pro-Iranian militant groups, in retaliation for the deaths of three American soldiers. The following day, on the 3rd, airstrikes hit 36 Houthi targets in Yemen. On the 4th, Japan conducted two airstrikes on Houthi cruise missile facilities in Yemen. The Biden administration has indicated it is poised to carry out further attacks, saying ``this is just the beginning.''
chain of retaliatory attacks
The Houthis and pro-Iranian armed groups have also said they will ``retaliate,'' raising concerns about a ``chain of retaliatory attacks.''
In fact, on the 4th, there was a drone attack that appeared to be aimed at the US military against a US military base in eastern Syria, and Kurdish fighters who were working with the US military were attacked. There are also reports that six people have died.
Iraqi government: 'This is a violation of sovereignty'
In Iraq, Prime Minister Sudani was shown visiting paramilitary fighters injured in a hospital attack by the US military. According to the Iraqi government, the attack was carried out by the Popular Mobilization Forces, a Shiite militia belonging to Iraq's security services and said to have close ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The Iraqi government strongly condemns the US military's attack on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, calling it a violation of its sovereignty.
In Iraq, anger toward the United States is swirling because the security of our country and surrounding areas has been threatened. Those who took part in the demonstrations chanted, ``America is the biggest devil!'' and called for the withdrawal of American troops.If they take even one wrong move, war could spread to the entire region.
Demand for US military withdrawal from Iraq accelerates
Last month, the United States and Iraq held their first meeting to discuss the possibility of withdrawing American troops. There are currently 2,500 American soldiers stationed in Iraq, and there are speculations that the movement to withdraw American troops from Iraq will accelerate.
The Biden administration is gradually becoming militarily involved in the unstable situation in the Middle East. Not only will the original objective of halting the expansion of the front be unachievable, but the U.S. military
may also be forced to reconsider its strategy in the Middle East.