aaaannnnd...it did
"He [US President Donald Trump
...The tack in the backside of the Democratic Party...
] is committed to defending our interests, our personnel, our friends in the region and of course standing up to Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet
militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word
Iranis a cognate form of
Aryan,the abbreviation
IRGCis a cognate form of
Stürmabteilung (or SA),the term
Supreme Guideis a cognate form of either
Shahor
Führeror maybe both, and they hate
and deterring Iranian bad behaviour. We will either respond or take pre-preemptive action as necessary to make sure that we defend those interests", Esper told the TV channel Fox.
He continued on by saying that Washington expects more attacks from "Iran-backed" groups and that they will "regret it".
"The provocative behaviour has been out there for months... So do I think they may do something? Yes. And they will likely regret it. We are prepared to exercise self-defence, and we are prepared to deter further bad behaviour from these groups, all of which are sponsored, directed and resourced by Iran", Esper told news hounds.
He added that the Pentagon would continue to beef up its forces in the region to protect "diplomats or American citizens or military personnel".
"At the same time I know Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo is working aggressively to talk to our allies and partners whether they are in the immediate region or beyond to build political support for what we are doing", Esper said.
Esper also called on the international community to condemn Iran’s behaviour and help the United States with its maximum pressure campaign.
Hashd al-Shabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, said that its supporters attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad after dozens of its fighters were murdered in the US strikes. They torched the fence, forcing US guards to take cover. The United States stated that it would send extra troops to Baghdad.