U.S. Launches Strikes in Iraq and Syria, Nearly 40 Reported Killed
Editor
3 February 2024 21:04 WIB
'WE DO NOT SEEK CONFLICT'
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after the strikes that Biden had directed additional action against the IRGC and those linked to it. "This is the start of our response," Austin said.
"We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but the president and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces," Austin said.
An Iraqi government statement said the areas bombed by U.S. aircraft included places where Iraqi security forces are stationed near civilian locations. It said 23 people had been wounded in addition to the 16 killed.
The White House said the United States had informed Iraq ahead of strikes. Baghdad later accused the United States of deception, saying a U.S. claim of coordination with the Iraqi authorities was "unfounded".
On Friday, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said his country will not start a war, but it will "respond strongly" to anyone who bullies it. He did not mention the U.S. strikes in a speech on Saturday marking Iran's space technology day.
Iran's ambassador in Damascus Hossein Akbari, in comments reported by the semi-official Fars news agency, played down the airstrikes, denying Iran-linked targets were hit and saying the aim was "to destroy Syria's civil infrastructure".
Hamas said Washington was pouring "oil on the fire".
Britain called the United States its "steadfast" ally and said it supports Washington's right to respond to attacks.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, arriving for an EU meeting in Brussels, said the U.S. strikes were the result of Iranian proxies "playing with fire".
REUTERS
Editor's Choice: Iran Attacks U.S. Forces in Iraq in Retaliation for Qassem's Death
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
