U.S. Strikes Kataib Hezbollah Facilities in Retaliation for Attacks on Coalition Forces

Welcome to Visual News. I'm Maya Thompson, and here's your latest update.
In response to multiple attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and Syria that injured three U.S. troops, U.S. military forces executed precision strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah. The strikes, carried out under the command of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), targeted Kataib Hezbollah and its affiliated groups in Iraq at 8:45 p.m. EST on Dec. 25.

Earlier in the day, a one-way drone targeted a U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq, resulting in injuries among U.S. personnel. President Joe Biden ordered the retaliatory strikes, confirmed U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The attacks were in response to a series of assaults against U.S. personnel in both Iraq and Syria perpetrated by "Iranian-sponsored militias."

"These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah on Erbil Air Base earlier today," stated Mr. Austin. The goal of the strikes was to disrupt and degrade the capabilities of Iran-aligned militia groups directly responsible for the attacks.

Early assessments indicate that the strikes successfully destroyed the targeted facilities and likely inflicted casualties on Kataib Hezbollah, according to CENTCOM. U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla emphasized that the strikes aim to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue such actions.