"The attacked Iraqi facility threatened American forces," says US

In a retaliatory response to Kataib Hezbollah, a Shia militia group, United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. Five facilities with links to militant group allegedly backed by Iran were targeted by US forces. According to US officials, group has attacked a number of American military personnel. US has said that it will take strong actions against those who put lives of Americans in jeopardy.

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Pompeo briefs Trump on airstrikes

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefed President Trump regarding US actions in Middle East. He was joined by US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley. Secretary Pompeo said that attacked Iraqi facility “threatened American forces”.

“ attacks that took place against an Iraqi facility threatened American forces. This has been going on w for weeks and weeks and weeks. This wasn’t first set of attacks against this particular Iraqi facility and ors where re were American lives at risk”, he said.

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He said that US response was “decisive” which reaffirms ir commitment to save lives of American men and women.

“What we did was take a decisive response that makes clear what President Trump has said for months and months and months, which is that we will t stand for Islamic Republic of Iran to take actions that put American men and women in jeopardy”, ded Secretary Pompeo.

US officials said that y were successful in destroying weapon stor and command locations that belonged to militia group which it used for its operations. It was a key location that acted as a control room for group where y used to plan attacks on coalition forces. officials also demanded Iran act in a way that was consistent with what US h suggested.

“We will always hour that commitment to take decisive action when that takes place, and we continue to demand that Islamic Republic of Iran act in a way that is consistent with what I laid out, back in May of 2018, for what it is that we expect Iran to do so that it can rejoin community of nations”, said Secretary of State.

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US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said that F-15 Strike Eagles were used for attacks.

“ Department of Defense took offensive actions in defence of our personnel and interests in Iraq by launching F-15 Strike Eagles against five targets associated with Kataib Hezbollah”, said Esper.

official ded that targets included three spots in “Western Iraq and two targets in Eastern Syria that were eir command and control facilities or weapons caches for Kataib Hezbollah”.

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