According to the newspaper, the target of the airstrike was a base that pro-Iranian forces used to launch drones that attacked the US military and CIA employees
One of the targets of the US airstrikes carried out on the night of June 28 was a base in Iraq that was used to launch unmanned aerial vehicles that attacked the US military. This is reported by The New York Times (NYT), citing sources in the administration of the American president.
According to the newspaper, in recent months, pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq have begun to actively use drones, with which they are supposed to have been supplied from Tehran. The devices were used for attacks against American military instructors, whose number in Iraq is about 2.5 thousand people, as well as CIA employees, the publication claims.
The airstrike on the base was aimed at depriving the militants of such an opportunity, although, according to NYT sources, the White House understands that this will not stop the pro-Iranian formations for a long time.
The other two targets that were hit were located on the territory of Syria. According to the newspaper, they were used mainly as warehouses. According to the White House estimates, there were few people at all three sites.
According to the NYT, the airstrikes were carried out by F-16 and F-15E aircraft of the Air Force. Fighter-bombers dropped several laser-guided bombs.
The Pentagon announced that airstrikes were carried out on targets of Iranian-backed groups stationed in the border area of Iraq and Syria on the night of June 28. US Defense Ministry spokesman John Kirby said that the corresponding instruction was given by US President Joe Biden. “The strikes were necessary to eliminate the threat and had a proper limitation on the scale,” he added.
Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica McNulty said that the United States has notified other countries about the airstrikes. If Russia was informed, it did not specify.
According to local media reports, a child was killed in a strike in Syria, and three more civilians were injured. Residential buildings were also damaged.