The US carried out an airstrike against Iran-backed militias in Syria on Thursday, marking the first military action taken by the US President Joe Biden’s administration thus far. According to the Pentagon, the strike destroyed “multiple facilities.”
The White House on Friday revealed that the Biden administration briefed congressional leadership before ordering strikes one day prior on Iranian-backed militia groups in Syria. Biden also plans to give lawmakers a full classified briefing early next week, The Hill reported.
While aboard Air Force One, Psaki also told reporters that Biden ordered strikes to send an “unambiguous message” to Iran that “he’s going to act to protect Americans.”
The strikes were conducted by two F-15 Strike Eagles that dropped seven precision guided munitions, “totally destroying nine facilities and partially destroying two facilities, making them functionally destroyed,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby revealed on Friday.
He also confirmed that administration officials plan to hold a classified briefing next week.
Kirby also noted that the Pentagon discussed the strikes with coalition partners, and also notified the Russian government of the strikes before they took place.
During a Friday press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia was given an approximately four to five-minute warning before US forces struck Iranian-backed militias.
France also clarified its position on the strikes, stating that it stands by the US.
“In light of these unacceptable attacks, which we have firmly condemned, we stand with our American allies,” read the statement, obtained by Reuters.
Some Democrats in Congress have censured the strikes and have requested immediate briefings.
“The American people deserve to hear the Administration’s rationale for these strikes and its legal justification for acting without coming to Congress,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said in a statement, The Hill reported. “Offensive military action without congressional approval is not constitutional absent extraordinary circumstances. Congress must be fully briefed on this matter expeditiously.”
The US launched airstrikes on facilities utilized by alleged Iran-backed militias in Syria on Thursday in response to rocket attacks launched against US personnel in Iraq earlier this month. On Friday, an Iraqi militia official confirmed that the US airstrike in Syria killed one fighter and injured several others, the Associated Press reported.
Iran is a strategic ally of Syria, providing the country support in the Syrian Civil War as Iran sees the Syrian government vital to its regional interests. The US has supported Syrian rebels and the Syrian Democratic Forces during the Syrian civil war. The US has been accused of leading the intervention in Syria to retrieve large oil deposits in the country.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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