WASHINGTON — U.S. forces have carried out two series of strikes against Iran-backed forces and their facilities in Iraq since Monday, according to U.S. Central Command.
In a statement, the command said that U.S. fighter aircraft launched “precision strikes against two facilities in Iraq” during the early hours of Wednesday local time, which were “in direct response to attacks against U.S. and coalition forces by Iran and Iran-backed groups.”
The U.S. strikes targeted an operations center and a command and control node used by the Iran-backed militant group Kataib Hezbollah near Al Anbar and Jurf al-Saqr, a defense official told VOA.
Kataib Hezbollah forces were present at the two facilities, which the defense official said had supported recent attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. Early assessments point to at least six militants killed in the two strikes, the defense official added.
On Monday, U.S. forces struck and killed Iran-backed proxies who earlier had launched a close-range ballistic missile against al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.
It was the first time a ballistic missile had been launched against U.S. forces in the Middle East since a surge in attacks began Oct. 17, and the first time U.S. forces have retaliated with a strike in Iraq.
Monday’s Iran-backed attack marks an escalation from previous attacks over the past month, as ballistic missiles can be more powerful and carry more destructive payloads than the rockets and drones used in previous incidents.
U.S. Central Command said the ballistic missile attack caused injuries to eight U.S. personnel and minor damage to infrastructure.
The Pentagon said U.S. forces were able to locate an Iran-backed militia vehicle and a number of personnel involved in the attack. An AC-130 gunship crew then conducted a “self-defense strike” in retaliation, killing three enemy fighters.
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