The United States on Friday (February 2, 2024) conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against 85 targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups, officials confirmed.

"U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States," US Central Command said in a statement.

 The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions.

"The facilities that were struck included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle storage, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces," the statement said.

Why US conduct the strike?

The strike was conducted in retaliation to last week's attack on an American base in Jordan.

"Our response began today," US President Joe Biden said.  "It will continue at times and places of our choosing."

"The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world," he said. "But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond."

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III echoed the president's resolve to hold the Iran-backed groups accountable.  

"This is the start of our response," Austin said.

"The president has directed additional actions to hold the IRGC and affiliated militias accountable for their attacks on U.S. and coalition forces," he said. "These will unfold at times and places of our choosing."