The US carried out an air strike on facilities used by Iranian-backed militia groups in eastern Syria on Thursday night (25 February 2021) in response to three separate rocket attacks against US forces in Iraq, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.
The strikes is alleged to have destroyed several facilities at a border control point used by a number of Iran-backed militia groups linked to the attacks against US forces in Iraq, including Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada,
The strike comes more than a week after it was alleged a dozen rockets believed to be linked to an Iran-backed militia group targeted coalition forces outside Irbil International Airport, killing one non-U.S. contractor and wounding nine more people, including five US citizens.
The Saturday before, at least four rockets are said to have struck Balad Air Base, which houses US contractors who provide support to Iraq’s fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, wounding one person.
And on Monday, two rockets fell near the US Embassy in Baghdad, inside the Green Zone. No injuries or casualties were reported.
The Pentagon said that the strike was ordered at President Biden’s direction.
Syria’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns the cowardly American aggression“. “It is a bad sign regarding the policies of the new US administration, which should adhere to international norms“, it said in a statement.
Johnnie Hunter, YCL General Secretary, told Challenge, “The recent aggressive US airstrikes in Syria, should be completely condemned by all socialists, trade unionists and democrats in Britain. This first act of international aggression under the Biden presidency should be a rude awakening for all those who fostered illusions that Biden’s victory, despite all the rhetoric, would represent any break with decades of US imperialism.“
He added that “Here in Britain, we must redouble our efforts in the fight for peace. One of our first priorities must be to build support British withdrawal from and the dissolution of the aggressive NATO nuclear first strike alliance. For decades NATO has been a key tool in US aggression and dominance around the world.“
Concluding the YCL General Secretary emphasised that “Communists call for a foreign policy which is based on peace, cooperation and international development, not war and extortion. This will only be possible outside of NATO and the web of US imperialism.” – Statement by YCL general secretary.”
Jenny Smith, is a member of the YCL’s Birmingham Branch
