Pentagon retaliates after deadly Iran-backed strikes on US troops
The US military targeted five weapons facilities of an Iran-backed group after an earlier rocket attack left two American and one British service member dead.
The Donald Trump administration plans to keep two aircraft carriers in the Middle East and is preparing to send missile defense batteries to Iraq after the Pentagon launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed groups.
Friday morning’s strikes, which targeted five weapons facilities of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah, came after a rocket attack earlier in the week left two American and one British service member dead.
US Central Command chief Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the top American military commander in the region, told reporters today that the early morning strikes were defensive and proportional and responded to Iran-backed Shiite groups that had attacked coalition troops.
“We never have to wait to be struck,” McKenzie said. “If we believe an attack is imminent … I and my commanders have full authority [to strike].”
