US Airstrikes on Shiite Militias in Iraq... "Distancing from 'Iran' Involvement Theory"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The U.S. military attacked Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq. This was retaliation for the death of U.S. troops stationed in Iraq who were attacked the previous day.

On the 12th (local time), according to the U.S. Department of Defense and local media, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes on several facilities, including the weapons depot of Kata'ib Hezbollah. This retaliation followed a rocket attack involving a dozen or so rockets on the Taji U.S. military base located north of Baghdad, Iraq's capital, the day before. The militia attack resulted in the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and one British soldier, with dozens more injured.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The U.S. Department of Defense stated in a press release, "The targets of this attack included weapons storage facilities used to attack U.S. and allied forces," adding, "This airstrike was defensive, proportional, and a direct response to the threat."

U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley indicated that Kata'ib Hezbollah was behind the attack, based on trucks discovered by Iraqi forces on the outskirts of Baghdad. Earlier, Iraqi forces found rocket launchers modified from trucks in northern Baghdad.

Since the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, by U.S. forces in January this year, there have been several rocket attacks presumed to be carried out by Shiite militias in Iraq. However, this is the first time U.S. military fatalities have occurred.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, "As we have shown in recent months, the U.S. military will act if necessary to protect U.S. forces deployed in Iraq and the region." At a meeting with reporters, Secretary Esper stated, "We will not allow attacks on U.S. bases that cause casualties to go unpunished."

Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command overseeing U.S. forces in Iraq, raised the possibility of Iranian involvement in the rocket attack. He said, "I believe the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran may have influenced decision-making," adding, "As frustration grows over the inability to control the spread of the disease, they may have chosen a greater risk (rocket attack)."

Chairman Milley said, "There could be various reasons for the rocket attack," noting, "It could be due to COVID-19 in Iran, an independent decision by the Shiite militias, or Soleimani's birthday," without specifying the exact background.

The U.S. government does not appear to be significantly opening the door to further escalation with Iran. Before the retaliatory strike, Secretary Esper told reporters, "We are currently focused on the organization that carried out the attack."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.