Pentagon launches airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militia after rocket attack on U.S., British troops

The Pentagon launched airstrikes on Thursday targeting Iranian-backed Shia militia group believed to be responsible for a rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops stationed at a base north of Baghdad.

The Associated Press reported that multiple U.S. strikes targeted a Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq, citing an unnamed U.S.official who spoke anonymously because operations were going on. The strikes were in joint operation with the British, the official said.

On Wednesday, two Americans and a British national were killed after a rocket attack on the Iraqi base, where U.S. military personnel are housed.

A U.S. military spokesperson in Iraq confirmed that three military coalition personnel died in the assault late Wednesday and more than 15 small rockets hit Iraq’s Camp Taji bse. Army Col. Myles Caggins did not provide further details in the statement, but other outlets including the Associated Press reported that the attack killed a U.S. solider, a U.S. contractor, and a member of Britian’s armed forces.

The U.S. has about 5,000 troops supporting Iraq’s security forces and American troops regularly come under fire in Iraq from Iran-backed militants like Kataib Hezbollah or another Shia militia group. Caggins also stated an investigation is ongoing and that next of kin were being informed.

The attack came on the same day the House approved a resolution that would bar Trump from launching a military attack against Iran without explicit congressional authorization.

The measure follows increased tensions betweens the U.S. and Iran after the
Pentagon killed senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike back in January. This lead to Iran sending a retaliatory strike on another military base in Iraq hosting U.S. troops. This attacks left dozens of U.S. soldiers with brain injuries.

The attack on Wednesday coincided with what would have been Soleimani’s birthday.

On Sunday. two U.S. Marines were killed while advising and accompanying Iraqi security forces. According to the military, the two marines were killed during a mission to eliminate a stronghold for the Islamic State group in a mountainous area of Iraq.

The House resolution now goes to the White House, where Trump is expected to veto it. Trump says it would undermine U.S. security and “show weakness”.

Supporters do not the two-thirds supermajority need to override a veto.

Wednesday’s 227-to-186 vote still marked a rare bipartisan effort to bypass Trump’s war powers and underscored lawmakers’ lingering concerns that U.S. tensions with
Iran could escalate into a full-fledged war. Six republicans joined 220 Democrats in supporting the war power resolution. The measure cleared the Senate last month with eight Republicans and all Democrats voting yes.