US Response to Rocket Attacks by Iranian Proxy Groups in Iraq; Precise Strikes on Their Positions

The United States Central Command, CENTCOM, announced that its forces carried out precise strikes on two units of facilities used by Iranian proxy groups in Iraq early Wednesday morning local time. According to CENTCOM, these attacks were a direct response to missile attacks on Tuesday by Iranian-backed groups against US and coalition forces in Iraq. The US Department of Defense also confirmed the attack on US and coalition forces at the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq, stating that the US military quickly responded with a targeted strike using an aircraft against vehicles and personnel of Iranian-backed militias, resulting in casualties among these forces. Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, stated that Iranian proxy militants conducted a short-range ballistic missile attack that caused minor damage to the infrastructure of Ain al-Asad base without serious losses. According to the Pentagon, since mid-October, US forces have faced approximately 66 attacks from Iranian proxy groups, with 32 occurring in Iraq and 34 in Syria, resulting in 62 American personnel being injured. The Pentagon told Voice of America that its deterrence policy has prevented the escalation of war in the region. An attack on a vehicle of an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq resulted in one death. An unexpected visit by the US Secretary of Defense to Kyiv coincided with the intensification of Russian drone attacks. A proposal by American lawmakers to sanction Iran's missile development program was also mentioned. A former CENTCOM commander stated that the main goal of the Islamic Republic is no longer to save Hamas but to drive the US out of the region.