US retaliates in Iraq after three US troops wounded in drone attack by Iran-aligned militants

President Biden ordered retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq Monday after three US soldiers were wounded — one critically — in a drone strike by Iran-backed militants at an American base earlier in the day, the White House confirmed.

The US military carried out the strikes around 8:45 EST, likely killing “a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants” and destroying multiple facilities used by the group, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, in a statement.

“These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks,” Kurilla said, adding, “We will always protect our forces.”

A one-way drone strike from the militant group struck a US base in Erbil, Iraq, Monday, causing three US casualties, officials said.

The identity of the critically wounded US service member has not been released and the extent of the other’s injuries are unclear.

“My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

Biden was “immediately” briefed on the attack and told the Pentagon to “prepare options against those responsible,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

After mulling his options, Biden called Austin and ordered the air strike.

Additional details on the operation were not immediately available.

“The President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way. The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue,” Watson said.

US bases and assets in the Middle East have come under attack by Iran-aligned militias in recent weeks over Washington’s support for Israel in its fight against Hamas in Gaza since war erupted in October

With Post Wires