The Pentagon warned Wednesday the U.S. would not back down on targeting Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East regardless of how the nuclear deal proceeds, a position the White House later confirmed with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The U.S. submitted a response to Iran’s offer on a deal that trades economic relief for caps on Iran’s nuclear program, but had reportedly already refused to remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) terrorist designation, CNN reported. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out overnight airstrikes against infrastructure associated with the IRGC in Syria Wednesday, precipitating a spate of rocket fire between U.S. forces and Iran-backed groups through Thursday morning, according to CENTCOM.
“Whether the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] is reborn or not, it actually has nothing to do with our willingness and resolve to defend ourselves,” Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said Wednesday afternoon. The strike “was a pretty clear communication to the Iranians, that these things are on different tracks,” he added. (US Won’t Let Iran’s Attempt To Assassinate A US Official Derail Nuclear Talks: REPORT)
The U.S. has communicated with Iran on separate channels to those used in nuclear deal negotiations regarding ongoing conflict between U.S. forces and Iran-backed militias in Syria, Kahl said.
“The President’s commitment to protect U.S. personnel and confront Iran’s activities that jeopardize our people or our friends in the region is unwavering,” a National Security Council spokesperson told the DCNF.
The U.S. targeted 11 of 13 bunkers used by the IRGC for ammunition storage and logistics support Wednesday after obtaining evidence of human presence in the final two in an effort to avoid casualties, Kahl said.
The strikes were intended to “disabuse” Iran of any intention to continue strikes on U.S. forces in Syria, Kahl said. CENTOM had obtained “dead to rights” evidence, including drone components traced back to Tehran, that Iran was behind Aug. 15 simultaneous strikes on two U.S. facilities in the area.
Iran-backed militias retaliated with strikes against two U.S. military installations at 7:20 p.m. local time Wednesday, wounding up to three service members, CENTCOM said in a press release. One injured service member has since returned to duty, and two others were still being evaluated.
CENTCOM in turn destroyed equipment used to launch the missiles, killing several Iran-backed militants.
Several #US air strikes have been conducted in Al-Mayadin, Deir Ez Zor in the last hour. Unconfirmed reports mention the direct targeting of trucks/vehicles related/affiliated to #IRGC proxies in the region. pic.twitter.com/vTjGxZXuKs
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) August 25, 2022
Iran’s foreign ministry denied association with the targets.
Tit-for-tat strikes continued through Thursday, according to local sources. Local opposition news outlet Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed U.S. strikes targeted a camp run by Afghan Shi’a fighters and resulted in at least six Syrian and foreign militant casualties, as well as three casualties among Iran-backed militias.
“It remains to be seen whether a deal is achievable,” the NSC spokesperson told the DCNF.
The U.S. reportedly opposes Iran’s bid to convince the International Atomic Energy Agency to discontinue its independent probe into Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program, according to Politico. Both sides now await Iran’s response to the U.S.’ counterproposal.
CENTCOM and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s requests for comment.
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