US carries out airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq

On January 23, the United States conducted air strikes on three facilities in Iraq used by the Shiite militant group Kataib Hezbollah.

It follows from the message of CENTCOM (Central Command of the Armed Forces) posted on X platform, Caliber.Az reports.

U.S. Forces Strike Kataib Hezbollah Capabilities in Iraq
In response to attacks by the Iranian-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah (KH), including the attack on al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq on Jan. 20, on Jan. 24 at 12:15 a.m. (Iraq time), U.S. CENTCOM forces conducted… pic.twitter.com/rSnbQdlRD4

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 23, 2024

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes were a direct response to a series of attacks on US and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria.

“At President Biden’s direction, US military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq,” Austin said in a statement. “These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias.”

The strikes came hours after the US said militants fired two one-way attack drones at al-Asad Air Base, injuring US service members and damaging infrastructure. And they followed the militia's most serious attack this year on the air base when it launched multiple ballistic missiles on Saturday.

US Central Command said the US attack targeted headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack drone capabilities of the group.