BLOWN TO BITS
US blitzes Iran-backed militia in Iraq as airstrikes pummel 3 bases & blow up drone storage after 150 attacks on troops
It follows a ballistic missile ambush at the American Al-Asad airbase
THE US launched a wave of airstrikes at Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq following a brutal attack on American military over the weekend.
The strikes targeted three military bases used by the radical Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-affiliated groups.
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The hit saw the three sites including the headquarters and drone storage facilities being blown up.
The strikes targeted facilities in Jurf al-Sakhar, which is south of Baghdad, al-Qaim and another unnamed site in western Iraq.
The attack was a retaliation after a ballistic missile ambush at the American Al-Asad airbase on Saturday which left four US military personnel with traumatic brain injuries.
Britain and the US blasted the "reckless and illegal" actions of Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea after their joint operation in Yemen on Monday.
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US Central Command said in a statement posted to X on Tuesday that they hit three locations used by the terror group Hezbollah and "other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq".
It said: "US CENTCOM forces conducted unilateral airstrikes against three facilities used by Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq.
These strikes targeted KH headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities".
The US also launched a strike against Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting two anti-ship missiles that posed an “imminent threat” to vessels in the area.
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US Central Command said the strikes were “missiles that were aimed into the southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch.”
“US forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US navy ships in the region."
Meanwhile, America and Britain said in a new joint statement on Tuesday evening that the Yemeni strikes come amid "continued illegal and reckless Houthi attacks" on ships in the Red Sea.
"In response to continued illegal and reckless Houthi attacks against vessels transiting the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, the armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted additional strikes against eight targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
"These strikes were designed to disrupt and degrade the capability of the Houthis to continue their attacks on global trade and innocent mariners from around the world, while avoiding escalation," they said of Monday's hit.
US airbases across the Middle East - particularly in Iraq and Syria - have faced an onslaught of missile attacks in recent weeks.
In response to Western support for Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, different Iran-backed militias have launched around 150 assaults.
On Christmas Day, Hezbollah targeted the Erbil Air Base in Iraq - injuring three American military personnel.
It comes as British and American aid workers have been asked to leave Yemen amid the allied strikes by Houthi authorities.
According to a letter from the Houthi-controlled foreign affairs ministry to the country's UN coordinator seen by Sky - the Iran-backed rebel group is asking aid workers with US or UK citizenship to leave Yemen within 30 days.
Who are Kata'ib Hezbollah?
Kata'ib Hezbollah is a radical Shiite paramilitary group based in southern Iraq.
Also known as the Hezbollah Brigades, the group was founded in 2007 and has close ties with Hezbollah and the IRGC.
The group is also affiliated with the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Force), an alliance of Iran-backed former paramilitary groups now integrated into Iraq's regular armed forces.
With up to 10,000 members, the group is responsible for attacks on US targets in Iraq and Syria killing hundreds of soldiers.
Its leader Ahmad al-Hamidawi, was named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in February 2020.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin added on Tuesday: "U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq.
"These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias."
After Saturday's attack on American military, US Central Command said: "Most of the missiles were intercepted by the base’s air defence systems while others impacted on the base.
"A number of U.S. personnel are undergoing evaluation for traumatic brain injuries."
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq initially claimed responsibility for the brutal attack on Saturday.
They also claimed responsibility for the drone strikes on al-Omar oil field, a US base in eastern Syria, the drone strikes on Al-Harir airbase, Iraq and the shooting down of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in Kuwait.
There are roughly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria - a hangover from occupation in the area and an attempt to monitor Islamic extremist threats.
Defence chief Austin added: "The President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend them and our interests.
"We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities. We call on these groups and their Iranian sponsors to immediately cease these attacks."
Despite reports from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office that the country was making moves to evict US forces - the Pentagon has said it has yet to be formally notified of any such plans.
Just weeks ago another US strike in capital Baghdad took out Iran-backed militia commander Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi - who had masterminded recent attacks on American troops stationed in the region.
The hit was strongly condemned by the Iraqi government as leader Sudani dubbed it a dangerous escalation.
Iraq's foreign ministry said: "Iraq reserves its right to take a firm stance and take all measures that deter anyone who tries to harm its land and security forces."
And Abu Aqeel al Moussawi, a local Iraqi militia commander, warned: "We will make the Americans regret carrying out this aggression."
It's not the first time Iraq has been hit by strikes amid the rising tensions in the Middle East.
Just days ago Iran's Revolutionary Guards bombarded Israel's so-called "spy headquarters" in Iraq with ballistic missiles aimed near the US consulate.
The warped terrorist army claimed responsibility for the brazen ambush which killed four and injured six others.
The war between Israel and Hamas following from the October 7 massacre has seen Syria, Yemen and Lebanon dragged into fighting in the Middle East alongside Iraq.
Israeli strikes have hit Lebanon, killing over 130 Hezbollah fighters including some key commanders.
And almost 20 more Hezbollah militants were killed by strikes in Syria.
Despite attacks on US bases, the Pentagon has said its troops maintain their presence in Iraq at the invitation of its government.
Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden warned Iranian-backed militants that they would strike Yemen again "if needed" following Monday's mission.
The Pentagon said they successfully hit eight targets - including an underground bunker.
And it follows the successful initial joint operation on January 12 which saw the allied countries blitz more Houthi targets in a meticulously planned mission.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the strikes sent the "clearest possible message".
He added: "Since we last took action 10 days ago, there have been over 12 attacks on shipping by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
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"These attacks are illegal, they are unacceptable.
"What we have done again is send the clearest possible message that we will continue to degrade their ability to carry out these attacks while sending the clearest possible message that we back our words and our warnings with action."
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