President Biden said on Friday that Thursday night’s air strikes against facilities linked to an Iran-backed militia group in Syria were aimed at warn iran that “cannot act with impunity”.
Driving the news: The Pentagon said the attacks, which were authorized by Biden, were carried out “in response to recent attacks against Americans and members of the Coalition in Iraq” and aimed to “lessen the general situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq”.
What is he saying: When asked by a reporter what message he wanted to send to Iran with his government’s first open military action, Biden said: “You cannot act with impunity. Be careful.”
An Iraqi militia officer said the attacks killed one fighter and wounded several others, reports the AP.
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh called the US attacks “illegal aggression” and said they violated human rights and international law, according to Reuters.
The big picture: Earlier on Friday, some Democrats criticized the Biden government for the strike and demanded an instruction.
- Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Said in a statement that Congress “will need more information to judge the effectiveness of the attacks and the signal they send to Tehran and its representatives, but I believe the president has acted. well within the authorities of your office. “
- A National Security Council spokesman said the Pentagon had pre-notified Congress and that the government continues to inform Hill at the level of members and officials.
Go deeper: US attacks Iran-backed militia facilities in Syria