US warplanes struck a weapons storage facility used by Iran and its proxies in eastern Syria shortly after Tehran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strike was in response to more than three dozen attacks on American military sites across Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement the strike was in response to more than three dozen attacks on American military sites across Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17. ZUMAPRESS.com
“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said. US AIR FORCE/AFP via Getty Images
24 soldiers have been injured in attacks on US bases in Iraq.
“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said.
“The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities. We urge against any escalation. U.S. personnel will continue to conduct counter-ISIS missions in Iraq and Syria.”
Austin said, “The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities.” AFP via Getty ImagesYemeni Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Sare’e announced the downing of the highly advanced, roughly 5,000-pound drone in a post to X on Wednesday afternoon, alleging that the US craft was “carrying out hostile, monitoring, and spying operations in the Yemeni territorial waters along with the US military support to the Israeli entity.”
“The drone was shot down by an appropriate weapon,” he claimed. “The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm its legitimate right to defend the country and confront all hostile threats.”
A senior US defense official told The Post the drone was flying through international airspace and over international waters when it was shot down.
Austin also added, “We urge against any escalation. U.S. personnel will continue to conduct counter-ISIS missions in Iraq and Syria.” APThe exact location of the downing was not immediately available Wednesday night.
The Houthis took over Yemen’s capital from the Western-recognized government in 2014 and had seized much of the north of the country by 2016. The political-military group is strongly supported by Iran and its Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah, according to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars think tank in Washington.
MQ-9s are larger, heavier and more capable aircraft than the MQ-1 Predator drone. They are primarily used to collect intelligence, but can also carry weapons to conduct strikes against enemy targets.
The Biden administration has vowed not to get in direct combat on Israel’s behalf, but US forces remain in the region on a counter-ISIS mission, while the Pentagon dispatched two aircraft carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean following Hamas’ savage Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed more than 1,400 people — including at least 33 Americans.
Wednesday’s drone downing took place five days after the Pentagon admitted that US forces were flying unarmed drones over the Gaza Strip to aid the Israelis in hostage recovery efforts.
