US attack on pro-Iranian militants in Iraq 

United States carried out airstrikes

On Monday, the United States carried out airstrikes against Iran-aligned militias in Iraq. This action was a response to an earlier attack by militants that left three US military personnel wounded at a base in Erbil, located in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region.

Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia, and its affiliated groups have taken responsibility for the Erbil attack.

These Iran-aligned groups have expressed opposition to Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas. The United States, a key ally of Israel, has faced hostility from these groups.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, US military positions in Iraq and Syria have been targeted at least 100 times. The US base in Erbil, in particular, has been a frequent target, including a drone attack on October 26 that breached air defences but failed to explode. Additionally, in December, the US embassy compound in Iraq was attacked with mortar fire.

Regarding the recent US strikes, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson reported that one of the injured US soldiers is in critical condition. She emphasized President Joe Biden's commitment to the safety of American personnel, stating, "The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue."

The US military believes the strikes resulted in several fatalities among Kataib Hezbollah militants and led to the destruction of multiple facilities used by the group.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the operation as "necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataeb Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq." He explained that the strikes aimed to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and to reduce their capability to launch further attacks.

Michael Erik Kurilla, the head of the US Central Command, reinforced this stance, declaring, "We will always protect our forces."

In a related development on Monday, an Israeli airstrike in a Damascus neighbourhood in Syria reportedly killed a high-ranking Iranian general. This has led to vows of retaliation from Iran-backed militant groups in the region.