The U.S. Military retaliates against Iran back militias in Iraq

| December 26, 2023

An Iran-affiliated terror group launched a drone attack on a military base in Iraq. The attack wounded three U.S. military personnel; one of them is in critical condition. The retaliatory attacks were against targets inside Iraq, resulting in the Iraq side’s criticizing the U.S. action. Three sites were attacked, the Iraqis claimed that one militant died and up to 18 were wounded.

From CBS News:

According to U.S. Central Command, the retaliatory strikes on the three sites, all located in Iraq, were conducted at 8:45 p.m. Eastern Time and “likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants.”

No civilians were believed to have been wounded or killed, CENTCOM said.

Iraqi officials said the U.S. strikes killed one militant and injured 18, the Associated Press reports.

Baghdad denounced the U.S. strikes as a “hostile act,” the AFP news agency reports. The government called them an “unacceptable attack on Iraqi sovereignty” that damaged relations between Iraq and the U.S.

There have been dozens of attacks by Iranian-backed militias targeting U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since the violent Oct. 7 terrorist assault on Israel by Hamas — a group that U.S. officials have long said receives financial and material support from Iran.

And in response, U.S. forces have conducted several rounds of strikes on what defense officials say are Iran-linked weapons facilities and Iran-backed fighters.

CBS News has additional information here.

Category: International Affairs, Iran, Iraq, Military issues

32 Comments
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Fyrfighter

Seems that the Iraqis should be offered a big steaming hot cup of STFU!.. Maybe if they policed their own country and kept a lid on the terrorists, our troops wouldn’t have t return fire. Better yet, pull all our people out, and nuke the site from orbit. These groups have proven they are not capable of peace or living as civilized people.

President Elect Toxic Deplorable Racist SAH Neande

Yep. I’m with you there.
If US personnel in Iraq (who are in Iraq presumably assisting Iraq military), are attacked from a (Iranian) terrorist base within Iraq, and we launch an attack on that base within Iraq, if Iraq doesn’t like how the US does business, the US can always pick up all its marbles and go home.
Best of luck doing business your way without our assistance.

Amateur Historian

Reminds me of a movie that I saw awhile ago. Didn’t like it at the time, but, considering how our country’s image has been completely obliterated in these 3 short years, it has kind of grown on me: Deterrence.

Prior Service

1) Restore our energy production.
2) Walk away from the Middle East.
3) Tell all the Arab countries “hey, we tried, you wouldn’t do anything for yourselves, we give up. Good luck!”
4) Nod to Iran, “you can take what you want. But if you so much as glare at Americans, we will hammer you unmercifully.”
5) watch Iran and Saudi Arabia go at it, pulling in all the other regional actors. Laugh when they ask for help. Sell them weaponry to more effectively kill each other.
6) Flip Europe and China the bird and say “securing the Persian Gulf is your problem now. Good luck!”
7) MAGA

KoB

Testify!

Amateur Historian

8) Ditch all the military programs and other sh*t that don’t help. Reorient the goals and mission of our military from wokeness to killing the enemies of the United States. Build up as necessary to counter threats and perceived threats.

9) Stay out of the affairs of other countries that have nothing to do with US Interests.

Odie

Whether it’s Trump, or somebody else that gives half a shit about America, they will have their work cut out for them attempting to right the ship.

Amateur Historian

*Sigh* Tell me about it….

Anonymous

Concur.

fm2176

Fyrfighter stated it rather eloquently…

“Damaged relations?” How about a war we fought to [initially] depose a dictator–one who was by no means a good person but who was at least able to keep Iraq somewhat stable under his iron heel? How about the billions poured into Iraq’s government and military in the form of financial and military aid, not to mention infrastructure and training for Iraq’s new government and military forces?

timactual

Another triumph of our military and political elites!

Wireman611

The Swiss bankers approve of the donations.

USMC Steve

Same deal with Libya and Quaddafi Duck, done in by Das Hildabeast and her crew.

26Limabeans

Retaliate is not the same as obliterate.
Let’s stop the tit for tat shit and get her done.

President Elect Toxic Deplorable Racist SAH Neande

How much of a hornet’s nest would we stir up if we irradiated (i.e., glow in the dark) Mecca and Medina?

I’d prefer a more childish gesture of releasing around a thousand Texas wild hogs into their holy cities.

President Elect Toxic Deplorable Racist SAH Neande

I’ve always thought of a high altitude release of short half-life radioactive dust over M&M during the hajj. No one gets sick & dies until after everyone has gone back home.

Fyrfighter

Given the way those hogs reproduce, that 1000 would likely be 100x that within a year.. now that makes me chuckle!

SFC D

It’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year!

Fyrfighter

That it is Eddie, that it is…

rgr769

Works for me. It would really make a statement.

Anonymous
timactual

Or we could send Ethan Hunt to steal that little sacred rock in Mecca. Hide it, ransom it, or just make it part of the aggregate in a new highway.

timactual

Seems like we have been doing a heckuva lot of “retaliation” over the last 20 years. Remind me of that definition of insanity—-“doing the same thing….” or something.

Graybeard

What I hear:

“No fair! They punched back!”

World’s smallest violin …

jeff LPH 3 63-66

I think the reason that the iraqis are standing up for the terrorists is that if the US pulls out, the terrorists will over run the country and the Iraqi Army will *punk out like the Afghan Army. *punk out is a 1950’s word meaning chickening out.

MustangCPT

That expression was in use in the ‘80’s and 90’s as well.

ANCRN

How many B-52s were involved in this alleged “retaliation?” If less than 10 it doesn’t count.

Slick Goodlin

Is the military style image used in this post AI generated?
If so, there seems to be more of them on the internet with odd imaginary military equipment and uniforms.

26Limabeans

The two rotary wing aircraft look dangerously close to each other.

USMC Steve

Then maybe the ragheads in Iraq should have been doing something about those sites that were attacking US personnel.

Owen

We keep reacting. Americans are being hurt. We have the ability to turn any piece of real estate into a self lighting glass parking lot. And nobody respects or is afraid of us under this management.