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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| US should target Iran's Quds Forces after attack in NE Syria — top general |
| 2023-03-31 |
| [NPASYRIA] The Washington-based Al-Monitor said on Thursday that the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff advocated on Wednesday that the US should respond more “forcefully” to recent attacks on the latter’s bases in northeast Syria by targeting Iran’s Quds Forces. US General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told members of Congress that the US should target the Quds Force “harshly” in order to deter future rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed militias on US troops in Syria and Iraq On March 23, a US contractor was killed, and five other service members and another contractor were wounded when a suspected Iranian drone struck a facility on a base of the US-led Global Coalition in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. Milley told members of the Senate’s Armed Services committee during a hearing on Wednesday that some of the Iranian-backed militias are “much more aggressive than others.” In response to a question on what steps the US can take to proactively deter future attacks, the US top general said that the US plans to “harshly” target Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and specifically the Quds Forces, which a designated terrorist organization. The US Central Command attacked with “precision airstrikes” against facilities in eastern Syria used by militias affiliated with IRGC, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Thirteen militants of the Iranian militias were killed and wounded, sources told North Press. General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, said the drone attack “was another in a series of attacks on our troops and partner forces.” “The various Shia militia groups — we know who they are — [we should be] letting them know that we will respond affirmatively and forcefully if they attack our troops,” Milley said. He stressed that Iran’s main goal is “to drive the United States out of both Iraq and Syria.” The top general noted that the US intelligence community continues to believe that the IRGC aims to solidify its arc of influence over Shia proxy militias stretching across Iraq and Syria to Lebanon. “Their archenemy obviously is Israel, and they [Iran] want to be the dominant power in the region,” Milley stated. On March 24, the US President Joe Biden, while on a visit to Canada, pledged to “act forcefully” to protect his troops against Iranian-backed attacks. Biden stressed that the US “does not seek conflict with Iran but is prepared to act forcefully to protect our people.” There are roughly 900 US troops are involved in aerial surveillance, coordinating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), civilian aid provision, tribal engagement, as well as medical evacuations of SDF troops in northeast Syria Related: Mark Milley: 2023-03-27 Biden officially notifies Congress of Syria airstrike Mark Milley: 2023-03-27 'Helicopter money' played a cruel joke on the dollar Mark Milley: 2023-03-26 US army chief: Iran could produce enough material for nuclear weapon within 2 weeks Related: Al-Monitor: 2022-04-12 Militiamen killed, injured in alleged ISIS attack in Syria Al-Monitor: 2022-03-29 Iran struck Iraq target over gas talks involving Israel Al-Monitor: 2022-03-23 Al-Monitor: Islamic State takes advantage of Ukraine war to increase attacks Related: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: 2023-03-26 US strikes in Syria kill 19 as Biden vows to 'forcefully' protect personnel; Saturday IRGC, militias move bases in hope Yanks, Israelis won’t find them Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: 2023-03-25 IRGC arrests imam in Syria's Deir ez-Zor countryside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: 2023-03-24 US says contractor killed, troops wounded in Iranian drone attack in Syria; US retaliates Related: Lloyd Austin: 2023-03-29 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: March 28th, 2023 Lloyd Austin: 2023-03-29 US does not intend to stop UAV flights over the Black Sea Lloyd Austin: 2023-03-28 Rep. Jim Banks Blasts Army for Hiding Recruitment Survey Data Related: Erik Kurilla: 2022-12-16 Daily Evacuation Brief December 16, 2022 Erik Kurilla: 2022-11-18 Officials: Drone that hit Israeli-owned tanker near Oman was launched from IRGC base Erik Kurilla: 2022-11-17 Israeli billionaire’s oil tanker hit by bomb-carrying drone off Oman; Iran blamed Related: President Joe Biden: 2023-03-28 'Pro-Ukrainian activists' attacked US bases in Syria President Joe Biden: 2023-03-26 Biden's pick to head FAA withdraws name from nomination: reports President Joe Biden: 2023-03-26 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: March 25th, 2023 Related: Syrian Democratic Forces: 2023-03-29 Canada to dismiss repatriation ruling for 4 ISIS-linked nationals in Syria Syrian Democratic Forces: 2023-03-29 SDF arrests 2,720 ISIS militants after expelling group from Baghouz Syrian Democratic Forces: 2023-03-29 When US troops leave Syria, all hell will break loose – US analyst |
| Posted by:Fred |