The United States Air Force conducted airstrikes against Iranian-backed rebel targets on the border of Iraq and Syria, [...] Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement on June 27.
It is noted that the corresponding order was given by the head of the White House, Joe Biden, because of a series of attacks by pro-Iranian groups on American interests in Iraq.
"The targets were chosen because these facilities are used by Iranian-backed militias that carry out attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on US personnel and facilities in Iraq," the text says.
The US Defense Ministry stressed that the airstrikes were necessary to "eliminate the threat".
According to the Pentagon, the attacks were carried out on targeted operational facilities and weapons storage facilities in two places in Syria and one place in Iraq. They were used, in particular, by the Shiite groups Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada.
"From the point of view of international law, the United States acted in accordance with its right to self — defense," the department concluded.
On June 4, The New York Times reported that groups associated with Iran have used drones to repeatedly strike US-used military facilities in Iraq in recent months. According to preliminary data, over the past two months, small drones filled with explosives have been used at least three times. The attacks were carried out at night, the UAVs dived and fell on the target.
