WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the deadly attack on U.S. forces at Tower 22 in northeast Jordan, President Joe Biden ordered a retaliatory strike on Iran-backed targets in the Middle East. More than 125 precision munitions were used in the strike, targeting command-and-control centers, rockets, missiles, drone storage sites, and munitions facilities, according to U.S. Central Command.
The decision to strike was made in response to the attack attributed to the umbrella group the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. Biden stated, “Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing. The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.”
The Quds Force, an elite unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was reportedly the main target of the strike. The Quds Force is known for training and equipping Islamic revolutionary groups throughout the Middle East and was responsible for training Iraqi militias in the use of roadside bombs during the Iraq War, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of American troops.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended a solemn ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of the three U.S. soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. Shortly thereafter, the first explosions in the Middle East were reported, marking the beginning of the retaliatory strikes.
These strikes come at a delicate time as the Biden administration weighs its response to the recent wave of attacks on U.S. forces in the region. The administration faces the challenge of responding forcefully to the attacks without escalating tensions and risking a full-scale war with Iran. Additionally, the administration must consider the potential impact on diplomatic relations in an election year. The decisions made in response to these attacks are likely to have far-reaching implications for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.