The US and the British have teamed up in launching retaliatory strikes against Iran’s proxy forces in Iraq who were responsible yesterday for killing US and British troops yesterday:
US airstrikes underway targeting Iranian backed Shia militias behind Camp Taji rocket attack that killed two Americans and 1 British soldier: US military source.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) March 12, 2020
BREAKING: Officials: US strikes Iran-backed group that hit Iraq base, killing 2 American troops https://t.co/7N1BauYxta pic.twitter.com/kWBbzL2asa
— Air Force Times (@AirForceTimes) March 12, 2020
MILITARY TIMES – The U.S. launched airstrikes Thursday in Iraq, American officials said, targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad.
One U.S. official said multiple strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq. The strikes were a partnered operation with the British, that official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because operations were still going on.
The strikes marked a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq. They came just hours after top U.S. defense leaders threatened retaliation for the Wednesday rocket attack, making clear that they knew who did it and that the attackers would be held accountable.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters at the Pentagon earlier Thursday that President Donald Trump had given him the authority to take whatever action he deemed necessary.
“We’re going to take this one step at a time, but we’ve got to hold the perpetrators accountable,” Esper said. “You don’t get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it.”
Of course you know what this really is, right? A distraction!
Solely designed to distract from Trump's disastrous handling of the coronavirus. He doesn't care how many die in Iraq from his reckless, self-centered actions, he doesn't care how many die from the virus at home. He only cares about himself, at all times and in all situations.
— Notendanafn (@mittnotendanafn) March 12, 2020
I guess Trump thinks this distract from the stock market and coronavirus failure.
Coalition airstrikes underway against multiple Iranian-backed militia sites in Iraqhttps://t.co/sysk3U6Aye— NoMoreTrumpLies🌊🌊🌊 (@gabnakkulablake) March 12, 2020
Of course Trump is going to bomb Iraq to try and distract people from his bungled Coronavirus mess. Classic authoritarian move. Don't think it's going to work this time, Cheeto in Chief. #25thAmendmentNow
— Banana Republicans (@ProgressDSM) March 12, 2020
These people are idiots. If Trump was really trying to use this as a distraction, he wouldn’t have launched it in secret. He would have released a statement or held a press conference or something saying the attack was underway.