Response measures to attacks on U.S. military bases
US blames Iran for armed group
Warning sent in first attack since Middle East war
Iran and Hamas visit Russia to engage in diplomatic warfare
‘Israel’ covered by air raid warning… Gaza Strip, searching for survivors in collapsed buildingsOn the 26th (local time), during the funeral of an Israeli man killed by a Hamas member in Holon, central Israel, mourners bow down and cover their heads as a rocket air attack alarm sounds (top photo). On the same day, residents are digging with their bare hands through the remains of a building collapsed by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, looking for survivors. Holon = AP Newsis · Rapha = Shinhwa NewsisThe United States carried out precision strikes on two facilities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and related organizations in eastern Syria in the early morning of the 27th (local time). The Associated Press quoted a senior U.S. official as saying, “(In the attack that day) two F-16 fighter jets attacked the weapons depot of the IRGC and related organizations in Bukamal, Syria.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued a statement today, saying, “This fine-tuned self-defense attack was solely for the protection and defense of Americans in Iraq and Syria.” He went on to emphasize, “If attacks by Iranian proxies against U.S. troops continue, we will not hesitate to take any additional steps necessary to protect our people.”
According to the U.S. Department of Defense on the 26th, over the past 10 days, there have been 16 drone and rocket attacks by local militants on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria, injuring 20 U.S. soldiers. The U.S. Washington Post (WP) reported, “An armed group called the Islamic Resistance Army of Iraq, which had not existed before the (Middle East) war, claims to have committed at least 11 airstrikes against U.S. forces,” adding, “The IRGC is behind the militias in Iraq and Syria.”
In response, U.S. President Joe Biden said at a press conference after the U.S.-Australia summit on the 25th that this was a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying, “If you continue to attack U.S. forces, we will respond, so we must prepare.”
This means that we will no longer condone attacks on US troops stationed in the Middle East, which have become bolder and more frequent since the Palestinian armed group Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on the 7th. At the same time, this means that the United States, whose other goal is to deter escalation of war, will block attempts by Iran, which is behind these armed groups, to expand war.
However, Minister Lloyd drew a line, saying, “It was an attack that was independent and separate from the conflict between Israel and Hamas.” There is absolutely no intention to escalate the war in the Middle East. The intention is to prevent greater danger that could befall U.S. forces in the future if armed groups in Iraq or Syria gather under Iranian command.
Iran showed no response on the 27th. However, despite President Biden’s unusual warning message, Iran continued to threaten the United States. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on the 26th, “If the massacre in Gaza continues, the United States will not be able to escape this fire,” and added, “If the White House provides Israel with unlimited budget, weapons, and operational support, it will lead to uncontrollable consequences.” “He said.
There are still concerns about an escalation of war. Bloomberg News said, “This U.S. attack shows how quickly a conflict can escalate into a bigger fire,” and added, “This attack is the first U.S. attack (in the Middle East) since Hamas’ airstrikes on Israel.” On the 27th, a drone landed in Taba, Egypt, near Israel’s southern border, and Nuweiba, about 70 km away, injuring six people. Israel believed that this drone was likely launched from Yemen.
Iran and Hamas visited Russia and engaged in diplomatic warfare. The Hamas delegation arrived in Moscow on the 26th and discussed the Middle East war with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in the presence of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel reported.
The Russian daily Kommersant reported that the Hamas delegation said at the meeting, “The hostages cannot be released until a cease-fire agreement is signed.” Earlier, Minister Amir Abdollahian said at the United Nations General Assembly in New York the previous day, “Hamas is ready to release civilians to Tehran. The level of pressure was further increased by saying, “It is the international community’s responsibility to release 6,000 Palestinian prisoners.”
Israel, which had insisted on releasing hostages without compensation, is also showing signs of change in its attitude. Israeli public broadcaster Khan reported on the 27th, “(The Israeli government) conveyed to Qatar, the mediator, that it is willing to provide compensation for the release of a large number of hostages.”
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.