In Retaliation for Attacks on American Personnel, the US Military Conducts Airstrikes in Syria.
The United States military launched airstrikes on two installations in eastern Syria in a rapid and precise reaction to recent assaults on American military personnel in Iraq and Syria. The weapons stockpile and ammunition storage location near Abu Kamal were apparently utilized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied factions, and they were the targets of the attacks by a pair of F-16 fighter planes. The United States has taken this bold step in response to a week of assaults against American soldiers in the area.
The U.S. Department of Defense has responded forcefully to the continuous assaults on American military personnel. Since October 17, the Pentagon reported a total of 19 assaults on American forces in Iraq and Syria, including three on the day of the airstrikes. One American contractor tragically died from a heart attack while seeking cover from the strikes, while 21 American soldiers were injured. The good news is that everyone who was hurt has recovered enough to return to work.
The United States administration, led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, made it plain that the bombings were a direct reaction to the assaults on American soldiers and had nothing to do with the continuing confrontation between Israel and Hamas. Secretary Austin pointed out, "They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict."
Defense Secretary Jim Austin said in a statement that the United States is not looking for confrontation but that assaults on American personnel supported by Iran are "unacceptable and must stop." He said that "If attacks by Iran’s proxies against U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people."
The United States has taken these steps to show how seriously it takes the protection of its citizens and interests in the area. While the White House hasn't commented on the airstrikes publicly just yet, it's evident that Vice President Biden views protecting American troops as a major concern. Secretary Austin reaffirmed that the President had ordered these measures to demonstrate that the United States would not stand for such assaults and would take appropriate defensive measures.
During a briefing, a senior U.S. military official reiterated the nation's resolve to prevent such assaults by declaring that American troops are "ready to do it again, for deterrence." Aircraft carriers, destroyers, and other naval assets are among the many U.S. military warships that have a constant presence in the Middle Eastern seas. In addition to the thousands of soldiers currently stationed there, another 900 have been sent to the area.
The rapid actions taken by the U.S. military in reaction to assaults on American soldiers in the Middle East demonstrate the strength of the country's will to defend its forces and interests there. The United States has made it quite clear that it will not hesitate to take action when American lives are at danger, even as it strives to avert additional escalations. The crisis is still developing, and all eyes are on this strategically significant area.
This page has been written based on current knowledge, but it may be revised or altered as new information becomes available or as events unfold.
Source: Fox News