The Blubber

The United States has approved plans for multi-day strikes in Iraq and Syria against multiple targets, including Iranian personnel and facilities, per CBS.


Senior U.S. officials have indicated that the United States is readying itself to conduct strikes in Iraq and Syria, targeting Iranian personnel and facilities. This comes in response to the recent drone strike near the Syrian border in northeastern Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers and injuries to over 40 individuals. The U.S. attributes the drone attack to Iran-backed militants.

President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday that he had decided on a course of action in response to the drone strike. CBS News reported on Thursday that plans for multiple days of strikes had received approval. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the U.S. response might involve multi-leveled and sustained actions over time.

The drone attack marked a significant escalation in tensions in the Middle East, being the first deadly strike against U.S. forces since the Israel-Gaza war in October. U.S. officials are carefully considering how to retaliate against Iran-backed militias without triggering a broader conflict, emphasizing that they do not seek war with Iran. Kataib Hezbollah, deemed responsible for the drone attack, is a powerful faction within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin denounced the attack as egregious, targeting the sleeping quarters of a U.S. base. Despite Kataib Hezbollah's recent announcement of halting attacks on U.S. forces to avoid embarrassing the Iraqi government, the U.S. is contemplating more substantial actions, given the continued assaults on American targets by the group and others. The U.S. has previously conducted strikes against Kataib Hezbollah and similar entities, with 166 attacks reported since October.