Biden: America Ready to Take Further Actions After Attack on Iranian Proxy Forces

The President of the United States, referring to the country's attack on facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria, stated that U.S. military forces are "ready to take further actions" if necessary regarding attacks on U.S. outposts and positions by proxy groups of the Islamic Republic. Joe Biden announced this in a letter on October 27 to the leaders of the U.S. Congress. According to the Associated Press, he noted that the U.S. fighter jets' attack on military facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria was aimed at deterrence and was carried out in a way that limited the risk of escalating tensions and prevented civilian casualties. The U.S. President added: "I conducted these attacks to protect and defend our forces, disrupt ongoing attacks against the United States and our partners, and deter Iran and Iranian-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on U.S. forces and facilities." The United States responded on the night of October 26 to drone and missile attacks by Iranian proxy forces in Syria. These attacks were in response to repeated assaults on American forces in Iraq and Syria. Additionally, the Pentagon announced that it targeted two facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria, which were used by the IRGC and its affiliated groups. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin described these attacks as "self-defense" and emphasized that these actions are separate from the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He directly accused the Islamic Republic of being involved in attacks on U.S. forces, stating: "Iran wants to hide its hand and deny its role in these attacks against our forces. We will not allow them to do so." Austin also stressed that further attacks would be conducted if Iranian proxy forces continued their assaults. Following this, Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder stated that U.S. F-16 and F-15 fighter jets conducted defensive strikes against a weapons depot and ammunition storage facilities used by the IRGC and its affiliated groups in Abu Kamal, Syria, both of which were destroyed. He emphasized that these attacks resulted in no casualties and were solely aimed at protecting and defending U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. Biden's direct warning to the "Ayatollah" regarding actions against U.S. forces in the region was noted, with Farhad Poladi from the White House reporting that Biden warned Iranian officials about attacks on U.S. interests. The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee called for practical actions from the Biden administration regarding the Islamic Republic. Muqtada al-Sadr threatened that if the U.S. embassy in Iraq is not closed, "further actions" will be taken. The U.S. has urged its allies in the Middle East to help cut off funding networks for Hamas. Biden warned the "Ayatollah" that continued attacks on U.S. positions would not go unanswered.