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U.S. NEWS Friday 13 March 2020

Pentagon threatening retaliatory strike after attack in Iraq

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and coalition troops is a
Associated Press "red line" for the U.S., but
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. said he doesn't think Iran
defense leaders on Thurs- has "a good understanding
day threatened a retalia- of where our red line is."
tory strike against Iranian- Asked if any counterattack
backed Shia militia in Iraq, could include a strike inside
saying they know who Iran, Esper said, "We are
launched the rockets in focused on the group that
Iraq that killed and wound- we believe perpetrated
ed U.S. and coalition troops this in Iraq."
and the attackers will be Two U.S. troops and one
held accountable. British service member were
Defense Secretary Mark killed and 14 other person-
Esper told reporters at the nel were wounded when
Pentagon that President 18 rockets hit the base on
Donald Trump on Wednes- Wednesday.
day night gave him the au- The U.S. military said the 107
thority to do what he needs mm Katyusha rockets were
to do. The rapidly unfolding fired from a truck launcher
events signaled a renewed that was found by Iraqi se-
spike in tensions with Tehran curity forces near the base
and its proxy groups in Iraq, after the attack.
just two months after Iran U.S. officials have not pub-
carried out a massive bal- licly said what group they
listic missile attack against believe launched the rock-
American troops at a base et attack, but Kataib Hez-
in Iraq. bollah, an Iranian-backed
"We're going to take this Shia militia group, is likely.
one step at a time, but Kataib Hezbollah was re-
we've got to hold the per- sponsible for a late De- Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Monday,
petrators accountable," Es- cember rocket attack on March 2, 2020.
per said. "You don't get to a military base in Kirkuk Associated Press
shoot at our bases and kill that killed a U.S. contractor,
and wound Americans and prompting American mili- made clear to Iran that the U.S. and allied troops as tored for possible traumatic
get away with it." tary strikes in response. U.S. will defend its interests well as contractors, and brain injury in the wake of
At the White House, Trump That in turn led to protests there. that they will also be moni- the blasts.q
said the attackers were a at the U.S. Embassy in He said the U.S. has re-es-
rebel group that "mostly Baghdad. tablished a level of deter-
likely looked like it could be They were followed Jan. 3 rence for state-on-state at-
backed by Iran. And we'll by a U.S. airstrike that killed tacks by Iran.
see what the response is." Iran's most powerful military But, he said, "What has
And Army Gen. Mark Mil- officer, Gen. Qassem Solei- not been changed is their
ley, chairman of the Joint mani, and Abu Mahdi al- continuing desire to oper-
Chiefs of Staff, told Pen- Muhandis, a leader of the ate through their proxies
tagon reporters the U.S. Iran-backed militias in Iraq, indirectly again us. That is
knows "with a high degree of which Kataib Hezbollah a far more difficult area to
of certainty" who launched is a member. In response deter."
the attack. to the Soleimani killing, Iran On Thursday, Esper and
Esper and Milley declined launched a massive ballis- Milley said they spoke with
to provide any more infor- tic missile attack on Jan. 8, their British counterparts
mation about any impend- at al-Asad air base in Iraq, about the attack, but de-
ing U.S. retaliation for the that resulted in traumatic clined to provide details.
attack at Camp Taji north brain injuries to more than Asked why none of the
of Baghdad. But Esper said 100 American troops. rockets was intercepted,
all options are on the table. McKenzie told the Senate Milley said there are no sys-
On Capitol Hill, Marine Armed Services Committee tems on the base capable
Gen. Frank McKenzie, the on Thursday morning that of defending against that
top U.S. commander for the killing of Soleimani and type of attack.
the Middle East, told sena- the increase in U.S. troops He also said the 14 injured
tors that the deaths of U.S. and assets in the region has personnel were a mix of