On Thursday evening, Mar. 12, The Pentagon released a statement that United States forces have recently launched another set of airstrikes aimed towards Iraqi military bases. This was a counter-attack by US forces after Iraq reportedly started a rocket attack on Wednesday, resulting in the death of three military men, including two American soldiers and one United Kingdom servicewoman.
USA fights back vs. Iraq on a 'defensive' way by launching another airstrike
The 'retaliation' attacks made by US forces were launched in order to push back forces of Kata'ib Hezbollah militia of Iraq-- a paramilitary group with strong ties with Tehran-- that are said to be planning future attacks in the country.
The Pentagon clarified that the launching of airstrikes against Iraq are made in order to make sure that the deaths of the three soldiers that were bombed at Camp Taji near Baghdad were given justice. This is also a way for the military forces to make sure that the Iraqi forces would no longer be able to strike back again after they had fired the facilities of Kata'ib Hezbollah militia.
"This evening, the US conducted defensive precision strikes against Kata'ib Hezbollah facilities across Iraq. These strikes targeted five weapon storage facilities to significantly degrade their ability to conduct future attacks against the US and coalition forces," said The Pentagon spokeswoman, Alyssa Farah. "These strikes were defensive, proportional, and in direct response to the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shia militia groups who continue to attack bases hosting ... coalition forces," she added.
Though the Wednesday rocket strikes were not yet verified as created by the Iraqi forces, The Pentagon said that they are confident that they created this attack since the country's forces were inside the facility in Baghdad.
US Defense Secretary: "You don't shoot at our bases, kill Americans, and get away with it."
Aside from The Pentagon's statement regarding the matter, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that President Donald Trump already gave him the authority to do anything he deemed necessary in order to fight forces attacking the country. He even said that this counter-attack would serve as a warning to all forces that plans to attack the US that they will be punished if they attack the country.
"We're going to take this one step at a time, but we've got to hold the perpetrators accountable," Esper said. "You don't get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it."
United Kingdom supports these US Airstrikes
Since one official from the United Kingdom was killed due to the Wednesday attack, United Kingdom said that they support what the United States did regarding airstrikes against Iraq.
"The coalition stands shoulder to shoulder in Iraq...When we and others are attacked, we reserve the right to defend ourselves," said UK Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace. "We support the right of the United States to defend themselves, as they have done tonight."
