Aggression against American forces will not go unanswered. This is a far cry from the days when Iran captured a patrol boat of American sailors and humiliated them before the world, and the Obama administration thanked Iran for treating them well.
“US conducts airstrikes against multiple Iranian-backed militia sites in Iraq,” by Ryan Browne, Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN, March 13, 2020:
(CNN)The US carried out airstrikes on Thursday against multiple Iranian-backed militia sites in Iraq, according to the US Defense Department.
The strikes come one day after the US assessed an Iranian-backed group was responsible for a rocket attack on a base where coalition forces are located, killing two American service members and one British service member.
The Defense Department on Friday identified the two US service members killed in the attack as Army Specialist Juan Miguel Mendez Covarrubias, 27, of Hanford, California and Air Force Staff Sgt. Marshal D. Roberts, 28, of Owasso, Oklahoma. The UK Ministry of Defense had earlier identified the slain UK service member as Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon.
The UK government expressed support for the US airstrikes, with the UK’s Defense Secretary Ben Wallace saying “We support the right of the United States to defend themselves, as they have done tonight.”…
In a written statement, the Defense Department stated the strike was aimed at harming the ability of Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iranian-sponsored Shia militia group, to conduct future strikes against American troops. The weapons storage facilities included areas where weapons used to attack American and coalition troops were stored.
“These strikes were defensive, proportional, and in direct response to the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shia militia groups (SMG) who continue to attack bases hosting OIR coalition forces,” the department statement read.
The statement added, “These terror groups must cease their attacks on U.S. and coalition forces or face consequences at a time and place of our choosing. The US and the coalition remain committed to the lasting defeat of ISIS, and the long-term security, stability, and sovereignty of Iraq.”
Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command which oversees US forces in the Middle East, told reporters Friday that the strikes had targeted storage sites housing “advanced conventional weapons” that he said had been provided to the militias by Iran, such as the 107mm rockets which were used in the deadly attack on Wednesday.
“We are confident that we have effectively destroyed these facilities and expect they will not longer be able to house the type of advanced Iranian-supplied weapons that were used in the Khatib Hezbollah attacks on the Iraqi base at Camp Taji,” McKenzie said.
US Central Command also released images purporting to be the weapons storage facility targets hit in the airstrikes that took place near Baghdad.
The Iraqi government condemned the airstrikes in a statement Friday, saying that several Iraqi security force personnel were killed or wounded in the strikes….
James says
It is a good thing that Trump is standing up to the awful people in Iran and other terrorist groups and governments. Better than simply cow-towing to them the way Obama and other Dems would do, or probably RINOs like Romney or establishment Republicans. Maybe they will develop some respect for America if they hurt.
eduardo odraude says
So you want us to believe that Mossad is part of ISIS or created ISIS, I guess?
Frank Anderson says
Think about it: Weight-wise a B-52 can carry 3 MOAB’s-not sure about the bomb-racks. A C-5 or C-17 can carry 6. They are GPS guided. What targets could be used to leave an impression? Because a MOAB uses fuel-air instead of “ordinary” explosive it delivers about 10 times the energy of a bomb of the same weight. Impressions last, both those of weakness and cowardice, and those of strength, barbarity and resolve.
How many times in 1400 years of jihad have muslims backed down to superior force?
Savvy Kafir says
Superior force, wielded by people who are willing to use it, is the only thing jihadis respect or back down from. Talk is pointless. Negotiations are a waste of time. Jihadis only understand violence, which needs to be visited upon them (disproportionately, I would say) until they give up the fight or they’re all dead.
Frank Anderson says
S.K., I cannot claim to know anywhere as much as several people who write here. I have read more than 30 books, from at least a fair spectrum of authors, and done a lot of other reading and listening for the last 10+ years to support my OPINION that you are correct.
James Lincoln says
Savvy Kafir,
A concise and correct analysis, my compliments.
b.a. freeman says
+1
James Lincoln says
Frank,
An alternative, to pack the same punch, would be to fly a “fighter protected” group of C-130s each equipped with one MOAB GBU-43/B.
There are all set and ready to go – with no worry about setting up compatible bomb racks…
And they have been battle tested – dropped in combat during the 13 April 2017 US airstrike against isis.
Frank Anderson says
James, the result would be the same. The “optics”, the “theatre” would be different. The cold-blooded violence displayed by a single airplane dropping 6 bombs each of which has the power of a tactical nuclear bomb, on 6 widely spread targets, while protected by all manner of EW and Wild Weasel measures would demonstrate the kind of rage and fury that would impress the suicidal maniacs we face.
Israel stopped suicide bombing by displaying its rage and fury in killing the leaders who sent the bombers. It worked.
James Lincoln says
Always appreciate your insight, Frank.
Frank Anderson says
bert, I do not understand your isis/mossad connection? It is incredible to me that pious fanatical muslims would cooperate with “vile, wretched” Jews. It is even more incredible to me that Israel would allow any part of its government to aid, abet, counsel or act in furtherance of the total barbarity of isis. I predict if you can provide probable cause, Israel would take care of the problem connection very fast. State your case?
Henry Mansfield says
Saw a headline this morning, it appears another Iranian general got dead in the latest airstrikes.
I AM THE INFIDEL YOUR IMAM WARNED YOU ABOUT says
US airstrikes carried out in Iraq just after midnight on Friday may have killed an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general supposedly named Siamand Mashhadani. Reports online in Arabic and in other local media have claimed he was killed in the attacks on five locations of pro-Iranian Kataib Hezbollah warehouses that the US carried out in retaliation for a rocket attack that killed three coalition personnel on March 11.
Plus COVID-19 takes out two advisors to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
ElderlyZionist says
Here, have a Milky Way bar, and a pack of Skittles.
Phil says
Funny… when the German minority in the former German territories between 1919 to1939 got butchered by Polish, French, Czech,… and the reaction ended in what is known as WW2, the world is full of opinions.
The USA should stay out, all actions taken always led to more war.