US confirms further action against Iran-backed groups in Syria, Yemen

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirms the US’s commitment to further actions against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria

In a statement on Sunday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that the United States is committed to pursuing further actions against Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq and Syria. Sullivan did not explicitly rule out the possibility of direct strikes against Iran itself.

The recent military activities involved joint U.S. and British attacks on various targets in Yemen, a response to several repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by Iran-supported Houthi rebels. After the unilateral American actions against Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria, joint strikes occurred with a justification of retaliation to the killing of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan on Jan. 28.

Sullivan highlighted that these acts do not mean the end of the US retaliation. He asserted in an interview with the media “That is not the end of it. We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked.”

Sullivan also underscored positive results produced by the strikes, stating on the same channel that the U.S. had achieved a “good effect” in “reducing” and “degrading” the capabilities of such groups to commit more attacks.

Meanwhile, Pentagon states that the US performed 85 strikes on seven different sites in Iraq and Syria, hitting command centers and training camps, as well as weapon inventories. Sullivan admitted to possible civilian causalities but considered the selected targets to be “absolutely valid”.

On the issue of direct strikes on Iran, Sullivan avoided a direct confirmation. Sitting here on television, I am not in a position to discuss what we’re ruling in and ruling out, he said in the media. But he cautioned that if Iran decided to respond to the United States directly, they would be met with a swift, forceful blow.

Source: Newsroom