U.S.-Iran Tensions Soar During Israel-Hamas War

November 15, 2023

Attacks against U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East, most notably in Iraq and Syria, intensified after the Hamas-Israel war erupted on October 7, 2023. The United States blamed most of the incidents on Iranian proxy militias but also cited Iran as the sponsor and facilitator of the armed Islamist movements. The groups targeting U.S. forces have a “very direct connection” to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, John Kirby, the National Security Council director for strategic communications, said on Oct. 23. “We know Iran continues to support Hamas and Hezbollah. And we know that Iran is closely monitoring these events and, in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks and spurring on others who may want to exploit the conflict for their own good or for that of Iran. We know Iran’s goal is to maintain some level of deniability here, but we’re not going to allow them to do that.” Iran’s support of a web of well-armed militias includes funding, weapons and training.

Between October 17 and November 14, U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria were attacked 55 times, mostly by suicide drones or rockets, the Pentagon reported. The attacks resulted in 59 injuries, including 27 potential traumatic brain injuries.

At the direction of President Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the military to deploy two carrier strike groups as well as more air defenses to the Middle East to defend U.S. forces. “We also are not going to allow any threat to our interests in the region to go unchallenged,” Kirby said. “We will use the military capabilities available to us to protect and defend those interests. And those capabilities are getting bigger and better every day. As President Biden has said, our message to any hostile actor seeking to escalate or widen this conflict is very simple: Don’t do it.”

On October 27, U.S. warplanes launched airstrikes on two sites – a weapons warehouse and an ammunition storage facility – used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and its allies in eastern Syria. “These precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. He emphasized that the United States “does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities,” but he also issued a tough warning to Tehran. “These Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop,” he said.

In a press briefing, a senior defense official emphasized that the U.S. response was not related to the war between Israel and Hamas. “Our desire is for Iran's most senior leaders to direct their proxies and militias to cease these attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. We're there for no reason other than as part of the global coalition to defeat ISIS.”

But the strikes did not deter militias from continuing to launch attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. On November 8, U.S. warplanes struck a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria used by the Revolutionary Guards and Iran-backed militias. “The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities,” Secretary Austin warned.

The following is a chronology of attacks on American forces and the U.S. response during the Biden Administration.

Timeline of Attacks 2021-2023

The pattern of confrontation has usually started with rocket or drone attacks – all reportedly launched by local militias fostered, financed and armed by Iran – on bases in Iraq and Syria that host U.S. forces. The United States has sporadically responded with airstrikes on weaponry warehouses and operational buildings along the key Baghdad-to Damascus highway, the major route for the transfer of arms and personnel.

2021

Feb. 15: Erbil airbase, which houses U.S. forces in northern Iraq, was attacked by rockets. One Filipino contractor was killed. An obscure Shiite militia, Saraya Awliyya al Dam (or “Guardians of the Blood”), claimed responsibility for the Erbil attack, but non-government experts said that the name was likely an alias for Asaib Ahl al Haqq, another Iraqi militia with ties to Iran.
Feb. 20: Balad airbase, which houses U.S. forces north of Baghdad, was attacked by rockets.
Feb. 22: The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was attacked by rockets.
Feb. 25: U.S. airstrikes in eastern Syria against Iran-backed militias in the first military action by the Biden administration. The Pentagon said that warplanes struck “several facilities” used by Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada, two Iraqi Shiite militias trained, armed and funded by Iran.

April 14: A CIA hangar inside the complex at Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq was attacked by a drone carrying explosives.
April 28: Balad airbase was reportedly attacked by a drone.
May 8: Al Asad airbase in western Iraq was attacked by a drone.
June 6: Al Asad airbase was attacked by two drones, which Iraqi air defenses shot down.
June 9: The Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, a U.S. facility near the Baghdad airport, was reportedly attacked. One drone was shot down.
June 15: Iraqi air defense shot down two drones, one in Baghdad and one in a nearby suburb, the Iraqi military reported. The targets were not clear.
June 26: The U.S. Consulate in Erbil may have been the target of three drones carrying explosives that hit a house near the facility. Another drone landed in an unpopulated area.
June 27: U.S. airstrikes targeted operational sites and weapons warehouses at two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq operated by Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada.

2022

Aug. 15: The Green Village base, which is used by U.S. forces in northeast Syria, was attacked by rockets. Al Tanf military base, where U.S. forces have been based for years in eastern Syria, was attacked by two drones.
Aug. 23: U.S. airstrikes targeted nine bunkers in eastern Syria used by Iran-backed militias for ammunition storage and logistics support.
Aug. 24-25: The Conoco oil field base, which has hosted U.S. forces for years in Deir Ezzor, was attacked by rockets. The Green Village base was also attacked by rockets.

In response, U.S. forces used helicopters, gunships and artillery to destroy three vehicles and rocket launchers used in the previous attack. U.S. warplanes and artillery later fired on militants preparing to launch rockets.

2023

March 23: A U.S.-led Coalition base near Hasakah in northeast Syria was hit by a suicide drone of Iranian origin, according to U.S. intelligence. A U.S. contractor was killed.

U.S. airstrikes targeted facilities in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
March 24: The Conoco oil field base was attacked by rockets. One U.S. soldier was injured. The Green Village was attacked by several drones. All but one were reportedly downed.

Oct. 17: Al Asad airbase in western Iraq was targeted by two drones. U.S. forces intercepted both. The Iraqi military base in Anbar governorate, approximately 112 miles (180 km) west of Baghdad, hosts 2,500 U.S personnel. The Pentagon reported minor injuries to forces in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a name used by an umbrella group of Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq, claimed responsibility. Al Asad is the largest base used by U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq.
Oct. 18: Al Harir airbase, which houses U.S. forces in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, was targeted by a drone. The Kurdistan government in northern Iraq reported that the drone was intercepted and crashed near the village of Batas. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 18: Al Tanf military base, where U.S. forces have been based for years in eastern Syria, was attacked by three drones. Al Tanf garrison is on the Baghdad-to-Damascus highway. The first drone was shot down, but the second drone caused minor injuries.
Oct. 18: The Conoco oil field base was attacked by two missiles and three drones. Al Nujaba Movement, an Iranian-backed militia, took responsibility. Conoco is located near a major natural gas field bordering Iraq. The gas field was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from ISIS in 2017.
Oct. 19: Al Asad airbase was attacked by drones and a rocket. The base hosts U.S. forces. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella of Iran-backed Shiite militias, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Oct. 19: The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the north of the Red Sea, intercepted the four cruise missiles and 14 drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The missiles “potentially” targeted Israel, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary said. On October 8, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
Oct. 20: A base near Baghdad International Airport, which has hosted U.S. forces for years, was targeted by two rockets. One was intercepted, and the other hit an empty storage facility.
Oct. 21: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was targeted by a drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a name used by an umbrella group of Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq, claimed responsibility.
Oct. 21: Al Harir airbase in northern Iraq was targeted by a drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 22: Al Asad airbase was targeted by Katyusha rockets.
Oct. 23: Al Tanf military base was attacked by a drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 23: Al Omar military base, which has hosted U.S. forces in eastern Deir Ezzor, Syria, was attacked by a drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 23: Al Shadadi military base, which has hosted U.S. forces in northeast Syria, was targeted by a missile. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 23: Al Malikiyah military base, which has hosted U.S. forces in northeast Syria, was attacked by a drone and a ground missile. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 24: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked by rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 25: The Kharab al Jir base, which has been used by U.S. forces in northeast Syria, was attacked by rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 26: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked by drones. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 26: Al Shadadi military base in northeast Syria was targeted by a missile. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 27: U.S. airstrikes targeted two sites in eastern Syria--one in Abu Kamal, Syria near the Iraqi border--linked to the IRGC and its proxies.

Oct. 27: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked by a drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 27: The Green Village base in Syria was attacked by approximately six rockets.
Oct. 27: Al Omar military base in Syria was attacked by an unknown number of rockets.
Oct. 27: The Kharab al Jir base in Syria was attacked by rockets.
Oct. 27: Al Omar military base in Syria was attacked by approximately six rockets.
Oct. 28: The Kharab al Jir base in Syria was attacked.
Oct. 28: Al Tanf base in Syria was attacked by two drones. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 29: Al Omar military base in Syria was attacked by six rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 30: U.S. airstrikes reportedly targeted areas in Deir Ezzor, Syria.
Oct. 30: Al Omar military base in Syria was attacked by up to 15 rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 30: The Conoco oil field base was attacked by two rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 30: Intense airstrikes attributed to the United States and/or Israel reportedly targeted areas in Deir Ezzor, Syria.
Oct. 30: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked by five rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Oct. 31: Al Omar military base in Syria was attacked by rockets.
Oct. 31: Al Omar military base in Syria was attacked by rockets again.
Oct. 31: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked by two drones. Kataib Hezbollah claimed responsibility.
Nov. 1: Al Shadadi military base in northeast Syria was targeted by rockets.
Nov. 1: Al Tanf military base in eastern Syria was attacked by two drones. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 1: Al Omar military base in Syria was attacked by rockets.
Nov. 1: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was reportedly attacked by two drones. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 1: The Conoco oil field base was reportedly attacked.
Nov. 2: Al Omar military base in Syria was reportedly attacked by a drone.
Nov. 3: The Kharab al Jir base in northeast Syria was attacked by rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 4: Al Shadadi military base in northeast Syria was attacked by rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 5: Tal Baydar base, which has been used by U.S. forces in northeast Syria, was attacked by at least one drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 5: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was reportedly attacked by four mortars. Al Dhaferin Group, an offshoot of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility.
Nov. 6: Erbil airbase in Iraq was reportedly attacked. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 6: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked at least once. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 6: Al Tanf military base in eastern Syria, was attacked by an unspecified number of drones or rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 6: Al Omar military base in Syria was reportedly attacked.
Nov. 6: Tal Baydar base, which has been used by U.S. forces in northeast Syria, was attacked by an unspecified number of drones. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 7: Erbil airbase in Iraq was reportedly attacked by three drones in two separate assaults. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 7: Al Harir base in Iraq was reportedly attacked. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 7: The Green Village base in Syria was reportedly attacked by drones. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 7: Al Omar military base in Syria, was attacked by at least two rockets.
Nov. 7: The Conoco oil field base was reportedly attacked by rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 8: Al Shadadi military base in northeast Syria was attacked by rockets. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 8: U.S. airstrikes targeted a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria, used by the IRGC and its proxies. The strike was conducted by two F-15s.
Nov. 8-9: Al Harir base in Iraq was reportedly targeted by one drone before midnight and one shortly after. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 9: The Conoco oil field base in Syria was reportedly attacked twice.
Nov. 9: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked up to three times. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 9: Al Harir base in Iraq was reportedly targeted by drones.
Nov. 10: Al Tanf military base in eastern Syria was attacked by one drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 11: The Kharab al Jir base in northeast Syria, was reportedly attacked by two drones. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility. The base was later attacked by rockets.
Nov. 12: The Green Village base in Syria was reportedly attacked by a drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 12: Al Shadadi military base in northeast Syria was attacked by a drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 12: The Conoco oil field base in Syria was reportedly attacked by 15 rockets.
Nov. 12: U.S. airstrikes targeted areas in Deir Ezzor, Syria. F-15 jets struck an unspecified number of buildings in Abu Kamal, an area used for training and storing munitions, and a safe house in al Mayadeen, which Iran-backed militias used as a command headquarters.
Nov. 13: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was attacked by four rockets.
Nov. 14: Al Omar military base in Syria was reportedly attacked by one drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 14: The Green Village base in Syria was reportedly attacked by one drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility.
Nov. 14: The Conoco oil field base in Syria was reportedly attacked by rockets.
Nov. 14: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was reportedly attacked by two drones.
Nov. 15: Al Asad airbase in Iraq was reportedly attacked by rockets.

Secretary Austin to reporters on Nov. 9, 2023

Q: Yeah, thank you for doing this. So just a couple of things, first on, you know, we've seen continued attacks on Israel from the north, and of course, on U.S. facilities in Syria and Iraq. So do you feel like deterrence is working?

And then you know, second and related to that, U.S. officials said that they see attacks in Israel-Gaza as separate to events that are taking place in Iraq and Syria. So do you still feel that way, given that the rhetoric from Hezbollah and Hamas?

AUSTIN: Yeah, so I think Israel (inaudible) that — the first part of what you said is really key here. We are responding to a number of attacks against our forces, and these are defensive strikes. They are not connected to what Israel is doing in its efforts against Hamas.

So in terms of deterrence overall, our goal is to make sure that the conflict that's in Gaza doesn't expand and become a region-wide conflict. And so to this point, we don't think that that's happened, and we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that it doesn't happen.

Q: Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. After today's airstrike, do you expect the number of attacks against U.S. troops by Iranian-affiliated groups will decrease?

And secondly, a U.S. military (inaudible) drone was shot down over the coast of Yemen today. So can you say anything about who is responsible? And will you have (inaudible) responsible moving forward?

AUSTIN: If the strike — if the attacks against our forces don't decrease or stop, we will take additional measures. And you know, as I said early on here, (inaudible), I think we're going to do everything we can to protect our troops, and we are absolutely serious about that.

In terms of the Yemen event, we're still looking into that, assessing that to see what happened, and so I don't have anything further to offer you at this point in time.

President Biden on Nov. 9, 2023

QUESTION: Mr. President, why did you strike Iran’s Revolutionary Guard?

BIDEN: "Because they struck us.

QUESTION: Do you plan to hit them again?

BIDEN: If they strike us.

QUESTION: Mr. President, are the retaliatory strikes working in the Middle East?

BIDEN: Yes. I mean, they’re working in the sense that we’re hitting the targets they’re seeking.

Secretary Austin's Statement on Nov. 8, 2023

"Today, at President Biden's direction, U.S. military forces conducted a self-defense strike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. This strike was conducted by two U.S. F-15s against a weapons storage facility. This precision self-defense strike is a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates. The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today's action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.

"The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities. We urge against any escalation. U.S. personnel will continue to conduct counter-ISIS missions in Iraq and Syria."

Department of Defense Background Briefing on Oct. 30, 2023

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Iran's objective for a long time has been to force a withdrawal of the U.S. military from the region. What I would observe is that we're still there. There have been ebbs and flows in the pace and severity of Iran and Iran-sponsored attacks against U.S. forces. You've seen this administration multiple times over the past three years have the president direct the Department of Defense to take precision self-defense strikes. And deterrence includes both demonstrating the preparedness and the willing to take military action, as well as messaging, which is why we have been very clear about what we want, which is for Iran's senior leaders to direct its proxies and militias to stand down and stop these attacks, and we've backed it up with the use of force. ...

Iran's strategic objective for a very long time, way before October 7th, was to force U.S. forces to withdraw from the region. We have maintained tens of thousands of U.S. forces across the region for decades. We have increased our air defense posture. Most of these attacks have been unsuccessful. But Iran's strategic objective has not changed. What we have demonstrated over several years now is with proportionate, deliberate, precise, presidentially-authorized use of force combined with messaging has delivered messages to the Iranians about U.S. willingness to use force.

Now I'd direct you to Iran about the reason they continue to allow their proxies to attack U.S. forces. And let me be clear: We're going to continue to respond when the president decides that's necessary for U.S. force protection...

We know that Iran cultivates a threat network that touches both the maritime space, the air space and the land space, whether through its cultivation of militias and proxies on the ground, its provision of one-way attack drones, which compromises the air, as well as its -- its very clear use of -- of fast boats and other -- other mechanism to threaten freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce at sea. It's why you've seen the Department of Defense not only talk about our increases in force posture, but all of the ways in which we're working with our allies and partners across the region to ensure that they have what they need to defend themselves, and that we're doing it in a networked way...

We are concerned about all elements of Iran's threat network increasing their attacks in a way that risks miscalculation or tipping the region into war. This is not only about U.S. force protection for the mission we're doing in Iraq and Syria, which is to support partners and defeat ISIS. Everybody loses in a regional war, which is why we're working through partners, with allies, working the phone lines, increasing posture, to make clear our desire to prevent regional conflict.

Department of Defense Background Briefing on Oct. 26, 2023

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: At President Biden's direction, U.S. military forces conducted discrete precision strikes against two facilities near Abu Kamal, Syria, this evening. These strikes are a direct response to a series of ongoing attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria that began on October 17th. Regrettably, these attacks resulted in the tragic death of one U.S. citizen contractor and left 21 of our personnel wounded, so I'm grateful to report that they have since received treatment and returned to duty.

President Biden's top priority is the safety of our personnel, and today's actions served as a resolute message. The United States will not tolerate such attacks on our people. Our strikes were carefully targeted to defend and protect U.S. forces from the ongoing threats posed by Iran-backed militia groups. These groups, with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have been responsible for the attacks on U.S. installations and personnels (sic). But let's be clear: Iran is responsible.

The U.S. strikes targeted facilities used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated militia groups. I want to emphasize that the United States does not seek conflict, nor do we desire further hostilities. However, the Iran-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must cease. We are prepared to take further measures to protect our people, if necessary.

It's crucial to understand that these actions are not related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The United States firmly upholds its inherent right to self-defense. Our commitment to safeguarding our personnel remains steadfast and we will continue to act decisively when faced with friends -- with threats.

In conclusion, the safety and security of U.S. personnel are nonnegotiable. We call upon those responsible for these attacks to cease their actions immediately. The United seek -- the United States seeks security and stability across the Middle East, but we will not waver in our determination to protect our forces.

Q: A couple specifics, if you can just give us some more details on the strikes, if you could say what specific types of facilities were hit or the ammunition, et cetera. Can you tell us when exactly this happened, what assets the U.S. used, manned or unmanned aircraft? And more broadly, are you concerned that this type of retaliation might broaden or widen the conflict?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: We struck two locations tonight. One was a weapon storage area, the other one was an ammunition storage area. Both we know to be aligned with Iranian-aligned militia. We used precision munitions delivered by F-16s.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: So the question was on whether or not our actions will widen the conflict. So again, let's be clear: We do not seek to widen the conflict, nor escalate it. That would be a decision made in Tehran and how it directs its Iran militia groups.

Our desire is for Iran's most senior leaders to direct their proxies and militias to cease these attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. We're there for no reason other than as part of the global coalition to defeat ISIS. In Iraq, we're there at the invitation of the Iraqi government, and in order to continue supporting our local partners who are in the lead for the Defeat ISIS mission, we need to be able to operate safely and securely. These Iran-backed attacks on our troops prevent us from fulfilling that mission.

Q: Just -- can you just clarify, when was the last time there was a American strike on Iranian-linked forces in Syria, just so we're not missing anything? And then following up on Lita's question, do you know -- I know you're saying that the intent is not to escalate it, but do you have any indication -- you know, the whole strategy of, you know, the deterrence movements has been to prevent an escalation, especially between the United States and Iran, and -- and just wondering, do you have any indication that it -- this won't have -- lead to that? Because it seems like it is, you know, obviously, you know, a step of -- a new step in this conflict, and -- and I'm just trying to understand your thinking for why it wouldn't escalate things.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: So the answer to the first part of your question -- it was late March following an attack in Northeast Syria on one of our locations that resulted in the death of a U.S. contractor.

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Over the past week, what we have done is steadily, expeditiously and dynamically increased our force posture both at sea, and now, we're flowing in additional air defense. The whole point of deterrence theory is not just to put stuff out there, but to demonstrate a credible preparedness to use military force.
Again, what we did tonight was take self-defense action because our forces in the Middle East who are there to support security and stability are being threatened by Iran and Iran-backed militias. What you saw us demonstrate is readiness to take military action to defend our forces, and we're ready to do it again -- sort of core deterrence theory.

Q: Can you tell us if there were any Iranians present at these facilities? Were there any deaths at the facility? What do you know in terms of any casualties associated with these strikes? And why not strike inside Iraq, since 14 of the attacks were on bases in Iraq?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: As we do in all cases, we spent a really significant amount of time ensuring that we're striking, number one, locations that don't have any civilian connection whatsoever to dramatically reduce the possibility of harming a civilian.

Q: But would you say they were IRGC facilities? And were there any Iranians present?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: They were IRGC-affiliated facilities. I don't know if there were Iranians present. Again, the people that occupy these locations are Iranian-aligned militia groups, as well as IRGC personnel.

Q: Would you say that the facilities were both destroyed? Do you have imagery showing that they were destroyed? And also, you -- you said earlier that you -- you separate this -- that -- what's going on here with what's going on with Israel and Hamas. You know, Iran might not a -- agree with that. How do you intend to keep these things separate, when escalation by the Iranians is happening due to this (inaudible) conflict?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: I would tell you we hit precisely what we aimed at, and I'll leave it at that. And then to answer the second one, you know, this is all about defending the people that we have in Syria and Iraq, and those people are there at the invitation of the Iraqis and they are to counter ISIS or continue the D-ISIS movement. It has absolutely nothing to do with what's going on inside of Israel.

Q: Can you help me understand more why we can't know how the military picked these sites? You say they're self-defense, but we don't quite understand the connection between these sites and some of the threats that you've seen over the past week. So can you help us make a connection between these targets and how you see it -- how you make that connection of self-defense? And secondly, can you tell us how many munitions were dropped, what kinds of munitions so we have a better understanding? And third, can you give us any visibility in terms of the degree of damage done by these strikes?

Senior administration official: I won't into the particulars of the precise facility in terms of what was on the facility. We know that these organizations store munitions at this location, that we can connect to a number of the strikes the types of munitions that are being used.

Q: Yes, how many munitions have you used and what -- what kind. Can you directly tie to one of 16 attacks that we've seen over the past 10 days?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Iran is the center of gravity for what we're seeing. Iran, through the IRGC, arms, funds, trains, equips, supports and directs a variety of militia groups across the region.

So yes, there is a direct tie between the militia groups and all the front organizations that claim responsibility for attacks against U.S. personnel. But the core point here is that Iranian fingerprints are all over this. Iran would seek to hide behind some deniable plausibility, and we are holding them accountable by targeting infrastructure associated with the IRGC.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: And in -- in terms of numbers and munitions, I won't get into the particulars. I'd just tell you that we select the -- the numbers precisely based on what we need to do, so not one more, not one less.

Q: Were there any members of the Iranian-affiliated militias killed in these strikes at the facilities? And then you hit two facilities. Was that -- was that essentially the total strike package, or were any targets called off at the last second because of the presence of civilians, or anything like that?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: We didn't call any strikes off tonight. We were very clear about what we were looking at, what we were looking for, and again, there were no civilians on the objective areas, the target areas. Again, if there were Iranians there, I just couldn't tell you right now. We'll see how the dust settles. We know that if there were personnel there, that they were backed by the Iranians either directly or part of the militias.

Q: Did you inform Israel of those strikes ahead of time? And did you have any coordination with the Israelis about this?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: No, we did not coordinate with the Israelis about this strike. What we did in self-defense of U.S. interests and personnel tonight is completely different from our support to Israel as it seeks to restore security after the brutal October 7th Hamas attack.

Q: In the past, the identification has been made that it has been Kata'ib Hezbollah that has been principally behind these attacks. Is that who you believe was the main target here of these attacks? And if not or if so, what's the hesitation in not naming them? And how can you not see a link between what the Iranian militias are doing with Iranian support for what is happening between Hamas and Israel?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: So what we're saying is that the actions we took tonight in defense of our forces are separate from our support to Israel and its operations against Hamas. Iran might see them as linked. That's up to Iran. What we want is for Iran to take very specific action to direct its militias and proxies to stand down. And I'd refer back to what President Biden said about the war in Gaza as well, which is a very clear message to any state or non-state actor seeking to take advantage of that conflict to widen this war or escalate the conflict. Very simply, don't.

Q: I just wanted to try and clarify the timeline of airstrikes against Iranian-backed groups. I was tracking one in February 2021, another in June of that year, August 2022 and then the strike in March 2023 that Senior Defense Official mentioned. Does that sound correct to you all?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yes.

Q: Are there any we're missing?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: No. All of these groups are militia groups who receive their support, their equipment, their training, their funding and their direction from Iran, period.

Q: I just want to try to understand the significance of these two facilities. How big are they? And how important are they to the -- these groups' ability to attack U.S. forces? And are the groups targeted today the same groups that have attacked the U.S. forces since October 17th?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: We think these infrastructure targets are significant and will impact the ability of the IRGC and IRGC-backed militia groups to continue to attack U.S. forces and continue destabilizing the region. The U.S. military would not have selected targets that it did not deem to be meaningful.

Q: Are these groups that were targeted today, are they the same groups that targeted or attacked U.S. forces since October 17th?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: There are a variety of groups. They have certain names one day, another name another day. But again, the main message is that it all goes back to Tehran. Tehran and Iranian senior leaders are funding, arming, equipping, training and directing a whole plethora of militia groups across the region. And they have escalated attacks against U.S. forces since October 20 -- October 17th, which is why we took self-defense action tonight.

Q: So it was just one F-16, or were there other aircraft besides the F-16? Where did they fly from? I just want to be clear that you believe that Iran is directly directing these proxy groups to carry out these attacks. Is that accurate?

SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: What I am saying is that Iran is trying to hide its hand and maintain some level of deniability, and we are not allowing that to happen. We hold Iran accountable for the actions of groups that it trains and equips.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: It was a pair of F-16s, and I'm not going to get into the details as to where they flew from.

Q: Were there casualties in these strikes? And then on the number of attacks, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said 16 earlier today. My count now is 17. Can you clarify?

GEN. RYDER: So right now, we're tracking that there were three attacks today, so it's now at 19 attacks. And again, we'll continue to update those numbers as new information comes in. But as of right now, it's 19 attacks since 17 October. When I briefed earlier today, it was at 16 plus three, so that's 19, but that -- that's where we're at, so we'll keep you updated.

Q: Can we report there were casualties?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: We know that there were people on -- on the target at -- various points during the day. Again, we know that they were not civilians. I hesitate to give you a number of anything. We're talking about an hour and a half ago, so we'll let the dust settle, and I'll just leave it at that.

Some of the information in this article was originally published on October 27, 2023.