By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
The Pentagon has destroyed Iranian-backed militia weapons and ammunition storage facilities in Syria with precision-munitions from an F-16 …in response to unprovoked attacks on US personnel in the region, DoD officials confirmed.
“At President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted discrete precision strikes against two facilities near Abu Kamal, Syria, this evening. These strikes are a direct response to a series of ongoing attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria that began on October 17th,” a Senior Pentagon official confirmed to reporters Oct. 27.
The Pentagon said the Iranian-backed militia group attacks killed one US citizen and injured 21.
A senior defense official confirmed that the targets were hit successfully and with precision, detailing the targets were known to be operated by “Iranian-aligned militia groups,” “IRGC personnel.” (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps)
While being clear to say the US intent was “not” to “widen the conflict” but take specific, measured action in response to Iranian-militia-affiliated attacks on US personnel and facilities.
“Iran is the center of gravity for what we’re seeing. Iran, through the IRGC, arms, funds, trains, equips, supports and directs a variety of militia groups across the region..We do not seek to widen the conflict, nor escalate it. That would be a decision made in Tehran and how it directs its Iran militia groups,” the senior DoD official said. “Iran is the center of gravity for what we’re seeing. Iran, through the IRGC, arms, funds, trains, equips, supports and directs a variety of militia groups across the region.”
As for the exact weapons used, specific location information or damage results detail, nothing was available for obvious security reasons.
The defense official was also clear that the strikes were not coordinated in Israel, not related to the Israeli Defense Forces military campaign against Hamas and not related to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
“What we did in self-defense of U.S. interests and personnel tonight is completely different from our support to Israel as it seeks to restore security after the brutal October 7th Hamas attack,” the US Defense Official said.
Prominent members of Congress have stepped forward in support of the US strikes.
“We stand united in sending a message to Iran and their terrorist proxies that attacks on Americans will not be tolerated as we continue to work with our partners in the region to avoid escalation of the current conflict,” U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Adam Smith (D-WA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the series of Iranian-militia backed attacks on US facilities and personnel have largely been “ineffective.”
“As a result of these attacks, one U.S. citizen contractor died from a cardiac incident while sheltering in place; 21 U.S. personnel suffered from minor injuries, but all have since returned to duty. The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will not tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said in a written statement.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization and Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
