US strikes Iran-backed militia targets in Iraq, Yemen

As tensions in the Middle East continue to grow, the U.S. announced that its forces used precision airstrikes to hit targets in Yemen and Iraq on Tuesday, Jan. 23. According to U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces conducted strikes in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen after locating two Houthi anti-ship missiles aimed at the Southern Red Sea, determining they posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and Navy ships.

U.S. CENTCOM Destroys Two Houthi Terrorists' Anti-Ship Missiles

On Jan. 24 at approximately 2:30 a.m.(Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes against two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the Southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch. U.S.… pic.twitter.com/l3CMPrDx92

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 24, 2024

Meanwhile, at the direction of President Joe Biden, U.S. forces conducted strikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed groups, including the Kataib Hezbollah Militia, in response to an attack on U.S. forces that injured four Americans at al-Asad Airbase on Saturday, Jan. 20.

According to reports, the militia group launched a barrage of missiles at the base, two of which made it through defense systems, making it the most serious attack on the base this year by the militia group. According to Central Command, U.S. strikes hit the Iranian-backed militia group’s headquarters, training facilities, and some munitions storage areas. 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes are the result of escalating attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

U.S. Forces Strike Kataib Hezbollah Capabilities in Iraq
In response to attacks by the Iranian-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah (KH), including the attack on al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq on Jan. 20, on Jan. 24 at 12:15 a.m. (Iraq time), U.S. CENTCOM forces conducted… pic.twitter.com/rSnbQdlRD4

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 23, 2024

“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,” Austin said.

Still, in a statement, the Iraqi prime minister called the strikes an “irresponsible escalation” and considered them to be “hostile acts.” With the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of groups that fall under Iraqi military authority said the strike near the Syrian border in Iraq killed one of its fighters and injured two others.