US strikes facilities used by Iranian-backed groups in Iraq

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US carried out strikes on Tuesday against three facilities used by the Iranian-backed group Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq amid attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria.

“These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

Noting US troops’ continued efforts with regional partners to further dismantle and degrade Daesh/ISIS, Austin said: “The President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend them and our interests. ”

“We do not seek to escalate conflict in the region,” he said.

“We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities. We call on these groups and their Iranian sponsors to immediately cease these attacks.”