US Strikes Destroy or Damage 84 out of 85 Targets in Syria and Iraq, No Iranian Casualties Reported: CNN
In a sweeping series of airstrikes on Friday, the United States successfully destroyed or damaged 84 out of 85 targets in Syria and Iraq, according to two US defense officials. The strikes were carried out in response to a drone attack that killed three US service members and wounded many more in Jordan. The targets included facilities and weapons used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran-backed militias in both countries.
The US strikes marked the first time that simultaneous operations were conducted in both Iraq and Syria. In Iraq, the US targeted al-Qaim and Akashat near the border with Syria, while in Syria, the strikes were near al-Barum, Deir ez-Zur, and al-Mayadin. The target list encompassed command and control centers, intelligence centers, rocket and missile storage facilities, drone storage facilities, and more.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, explained that the targets were chosen with the expectation that there would likely be casualties associated with people inside those facilities. However, a preliminary battlefield damage assessment revealed no indications of Iranian casualties. A complete post-strike analysis is still underway.
President Joe Biden expressed his confidence in the effectiveness of the strikes, stating that they are working to deter and disrupt militant groups’ operations in the region. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the strikes were only the beginning of the US response.
The Biden administration has faced criticism for the perceived delay in responding to the drone strike in Jordan, which allowed the Iran-backed militias time to relocate their personnel. Lt. Gen. Sims addressed this concern by explaining that good weather conditions for the operation were not present until Friday night.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan assured that the US retaliation for the attack that killed three US service members was not over. He stated that the Friday strikes were just the beginning of their response and that there would be more steps to come.
Since the US strikes, there has been one attack on Saturday against US forces at Mission Support Site Euphrates, also known as the Conoco oil fields. Two rockets were launched against the site, but no injuries or damage were reported.
The successful destruction or damage of 84 out of 85 targets demonstrates the effectiveness of the US airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. While there were concerns about potential Iranian casualties, the preliminary assessment indicates that no members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed. The Biden administration has made it clear that these strikes are just the start of their response, and more steps will be taken in the future. As tensions continue to escalate in the region, it remains to be seen how this series of airstrikes will impact the operations of militant groups and the overall stability of Syria and Iraq.