FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper walks out to welcome Britain's Secretary of State of Defence Ben Wallace before their meeting at Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
Reuters: Trump authorizes U.S. military to respond after Iran-backed militia kills troops
WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized the U.S. military to respond to Wednesday's rocket attack by Iran-backed militia in Iraq that killed two American troops and a British service member, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stopped short of blaming Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah or naming any specific militia.
But they were clear that they believe Iran backed the fighters who carried out the attack, and warned that all options were on the table.
"I have spoken with the president. He's given me the authority to do what we need to do, consistent with his guidance," Esper told reporters at the Pentagon.
Asked if a U.S. response could include strikes inside Iran, Esper hinted that strikes against the militia itself were the priority.
"I'm not going to take any option off the table right now, but we are focused on the group -- groups -- that we believe perpetrated this in Iraq, as the immediate (focus)," he said.
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WNU Editor: This is not the time to mess around with the U.S.. It is obvious that some militias in Iraq are not sensitive to the shit-storm that is about to be dropped on them.
Update: It looks like the targets have already been lined-up .... Esper blames Iranian-backed militias for rocket attack that killed American troops (CNN).
More News On President Trump Authorizing The Pentagon To Respond After Iran-Backed Militia Kills Troops In Iraq
Pentagon threatening retaliatory strike after attack in Iraq -- AP
Pentagon warns 'all options on the table' after Americans killed in Iraq -- AFP
Pentagon chief says all options on table after Iraq rocket attack -- Reuters
Pentagon leaders warn of military response after deadly rocket attack -- Politico
Trump authorizes Pentagon 'to do what we need to do' after deadly attack on US & UK troops in Iraq – Defense Secretary Esper -- RT
Iran likely behind attack that killed Americans in Iraq: US general -- FOX News
3 comments:
The reality is that we don't really know who did it. Esper "believes" that a certain Iranian-backed militia is responsible, but I saw a report a few weeks ago saying that Iraqi police officials in Kirkuk thought that ISIS was behind the attack on the US base there at the end of December. ISIS hates Iran as much as they hate the US and I'll bet they'd love to see a US-Iran war.
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Wnu agreed. There will be a metal storm coming their way.
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