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U.S. NEWS Saturday 14 March 2020

U.S. general: U.S. strikes destroy weapons depots, more remain

By LOLITA C. BALDOR protect our forces in Iraq
Associated Press and the region."
WASHINGTON (AP) — The According to the U.S. mili-
U.S. retaliatory airstrikes tary, the locations of the
against militants in Iraq de- strikes were largely around
stroyed five weapons de- the Baghdad region. The
pots, but the top U.S com- strikes hit weapons storage
mander for the Middle East facilities in Karbala, Al-Mu-
acknowledged Friday that sayib, and Arab Nawar Ah-
there are many similar sites mad and a missile storage
that the U.S. has so far not and propellant production
hit because of potential ci- facility in Jurf al-Sakher,
vilian casualties and politi- Prior to the strikes top U.S.
cal sensitivities with the Iraqi officials, including President
government. Donald Trump and Esper
Marine Gen. Frank McKen- had suggested retaliation
zie said the U.S. decision to was coming. And McKen-
target the Iranian-backed zie told senators in a public
Shiite militia group that killed hearing that the deaths of
American and British troops U.S. and coalition troops
in a rocket attack this week This annotated image provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, shows aerial images after U.S. created a "red line" for the
sends a strong message to airstrikes in Iraq on Friday, March 13, 2020. U.S.
Iran and its proxies. But he Associated Press Two U.S. troops and one
said that as the threat of British service member were
continued attacks remains ed 14 other personnel, has "If Iraqis were there and were killed in that attack killed and 14 other person-
high and tensions with Iran not commented on the Iraqi military forces were but dozens suffered mild nel were wounded when
have not gone down, the strikes, but another Iranian- there, I would say it's prob- traumatic brain injury. Since as many as 15 rockets hit
U.S. is beefing up military backed group has vowed ably not a good idea to then, Washington has been the base Wednesday. The
assets in the region. revenge. position yourself with Kataib negotiating with the Iraqi U.S. military said the 107
"What should now be ob- The tit-for-tat strikes poten- Hezbollah in the wake of a government to permit the mm Katyusha rockets were
vious to everyone is you're tially signal another cycle strike that killed Americans Patriot deployment. fired from a truck launcher
not going to be able to fire of violence between Wash- and coalition members." The latest strikes mark a that was found by Iraqi se-
those at a U.S. or coalition ington and Tehran that Due to the ongoing threat, rapid escalation in tensions curity forces near the base
base, hurt or kill our people, could play out inside Iraq. McKenzie said Defense with Tehran and its proxy after the attack.
and escape unscathed," And they threaten to ham- Secretary Mark Esper has groups in Iraq, just two Asked why there were no
McKenzie told Pentagon per ongoing U.S. negotia- agreed to keep two Navy months after Iran carried systems at Taji to intercept
reporters Friday. He said tions with the Iraqi govern- aircraft carriers — the USS out a massive ballistic mis- the rockets, McKenzie said
the U.S. has been aware ment to keep American Dwight D. Eisenhower and sile attack against Ameri- that such systems are lim-
of the weapons sites and troops in the country. the USS Harry S. Truman -- in can troops at a base in ited and can't be every-
knows where more are, but In fact, Iraq's military said the Gulf region "for a period Iraq. They came just hours where. He said to put a
has exercised "restraint" in three Iraqi army comman- of time." He said this is the after top U.S. defense lead- system there, he would
bombing them because in dos and two federal police first time since 2012 that the ers threatened retaliation have to take it away from
some cases strikes would kill officers were killed in the U.S. has had two carriers for the Wednesday rocket another location where it's
"a lot" of civilians. He said U.S. strikes. And a Shiite en- in the region at the same attack, making clear that also needed.
the U.S. works with the Iraq dowment in the holy city of time. they knew who did it and Kataib Hezbollah was also
military to take out the sites, Karbala said one civilian in He also said that Patriot air that the attackers would responsible for a late De-
but at times that doesn't an airport complex being defense missile systems are be held accountable. cember rocket attack on a
work. constructed by the endow- being moved into Iraq to "The United States will not military base in Kirkuk that
Kataib Hezbollah, the ment was also killed. provide defenses against tolerate attacks against killed a U.S. contractor,
group the U.S. blames for Asked about the Iraqi ballistic missile attacks like our people, our interests, prompting American mili-
the Wednesday attack at deaths, McKenzie said the the January strike by Iran or our allies," Esper said. "As tary strikes in response.
Camp Taji base that killed U.S. talked with the Iraq mili- that hit an Iraqi air base we have demonstrated in That in turn led to pro-
two U.S. and one British ser- tary and they knew the U.S. where U.S. troops were recent months, we will take tests at the U.S. Embassy in
vice members and wound- attack was imminent. present. No Americans any action necessary to Baghdad.q