US Strikes Kataib Hezbollah that Hit Iraq Base

The US military launched precision airstrikes against pro-Iran Kataib Hezbollah armed faction in Iraq following the deaths of two Americans and a Briton in a rocket attack, US military officials said on Thursday.

The operation targeted five weapons facilities of Kataib Hezbollah across Iraq, the Pentagon said in a statement.

"These weapons storage facilities include facilities that housed weapons used to target US and coalition troops," the statement said.

The strikes were "defensive, proportional, and in direct response to the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shiite militia groups who continue to attack bases" hosting troops that are part of the international coalition fighting ISIS.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, in a Pentagon statement detailing the strikes, cautioned the United States "will not tolerate attacks against our people, our interests, or our allies."

"As we have demonstrated in recent months, we will take any action necessary to



protect our forces in Iraq and the region," he said. 

Esper had earlier warned that "all options are on the table" to respond to the death of the three soldiers in a barrage of about 18 rockets on the Taji air base on Wednesday.

Troops from the United States and other countries in the Operation Inherent Resolve coalition reside at the base, and have been targets of previous rocket attacks attributed to Iran-backed Iraqi groups.

Wednesday's attack on the Taji air base was the 22nd on US installations in Iraq, including the American embassy, since late October.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Washington has blamed Iran-backed factions from the Popular Moblization Forces network, which includes Kataib Hezbollah, for recent similar violence.

The UK named its fallen service member in the attack Wednesday as Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon. The United States has not yet identified the US service members killed.

Fourteen others were wounded, including Americans, Brits, and Poles.