Multiple US personnel are currently undergoing evaluations for traumatic brain injuries after Iranian-backed militias unleashed a barrage of ballistic missiles on a US airbase in western Iraq. This attack marks the largest assault on US forces within Iraq since the October 7th massacre. In response, Biden administration officials have expressed their desire to prevent this conflict from spiraling out of control in the Middle East.
Efforts are being made to ensure that the situation does not escalate further. Despite the recent attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria and ongoing assaults on shipping in the Red Sea, no other actors have fully intervened to support Hamas in this war, according to US officials.
To intercept the incoming ballistic missiles launched by Iran's proxy fighters in western Iraq, over 15 Patriot surface-to-air missiles were fired. However, two missiles managed to evade interception, resulting in two American soldiers currently receiving treatment for traumatic brain injuries.
Over the past three months, US forces have experienced more than 140 attacks in Iraq and Syria. In response, the US has been conducting strikes against Iran's rebel army in Yemen using warships, submarines, and super-horned jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Despite these actions, attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea persist.
The region has been fraught with tension and conflict. Iran recently fired ballistic missiles into Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan, prompting Pakistan to retaliate with strikes of its own. A $32 million US Reaper drone was also shot down for the second time since November. Additionally, Israeli forces have engaged Iranian troops in Syria, Turkey has been targeting the Kurds in Iraq and Syria, and Israel's ongoing battles against Hamas and Hezbollah continue.
In light of these developments, General Jack Keane emphasized the need for a stronger US response against Iran and its proxies. He argues that the evidence supports the notion that Iran does not seek a war with the United States. Keane urges the implementation of a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond military action and recognizes that appeasement is no longer a viable approach.
President Biden, on the other hand, spent the morning in Rehoboth Beach before heading to Wilmington. He did not address reporters before his departure, leaving the reasons for his visit to Wilmington unclear.
As tensions persist in the Middle East, efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent further conflict will continue to be a priority for the Biden administration.
