Topline
President Joe Biden said Friday the U.S. “does not seek conflict with Iran” but plans to act “forcefully to protect our people” after he said an Iranian drone killed an American contractor and wounded several military personnel in Syria—an incident that raised already heated tensions between the two countries.
President Joe Biden holds a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, not … [+]
Key Facts
Biden said at a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that airstrikes the U.S. carried out after the attack were part of the forceful response, though it’s unclear if American troops will take further action.
American forces retaliated against groups affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard in Syria, according to the president.
Casualties from Thursday’s suspected Iranian drone strike on a coalition facility in northeast Syria included injuries to five military personnel and one American contractor in addition to the contractor that was killed.
What To Watch For
Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters Friday the U.S. will not engage in back-and-forth strikes with Iranian-backed groups that could continue indefinitely, saying the round of airstrikes following the drone attack were “intended to send a very clear message.”
Key Background
Most details of the attack, including the motive, remain unclear—as does the status of the facility. The New York Times reported Friday the facility targeted by the drone had a “not fully operational” air defense system, though the extent of the system and whether it might have made the base a vulnerable target were not known—Ryder claimed Friday the facility’s air defense radar was working at the time of the attack. The American military has also not provided evidence for its claim the drone was of Iranian origin. The attack came after a rare period of de-escalation across much of the Middle East, capped by a recent Chinese-brokered peace deal between Iran and rival Saudi Arabia.
Big Number
78. That’s how many attacks Iran-affiliated groups have taken against American targets since 2021, according to U.S. Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command.
Further Reading
U.S. Contractor Killed By Suspected Iranian Drone In Syria, Pentagon Responds With Airstrikes (Forbes)
U.S. Air Defenses ‘Not Fully Operational’ Before Strike Killed American in Syria, Officials Say (New York Times)
Chinese-Brokered Deal Upends Mideast Diplomacy and Challenges U.S. (New York Times)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/24/biden-us-does-not-seek-conflict-with-iran-but-is-responding-forcefully-after-death-of-american/