United States Missile Strike on Syria

On February 25, 2021, the United States military conducted a missile strike on Syria in retaliation to an attack on February 15 that injured Americans citizens in Iraq. “The United States, on Thursday, carried out airstrikes in eastern Syria against buildings belonging to what the Pentagon said were Iran-backed militias responsible for recent attacks against American and allied personnel in Iraq,” The New York Times states. The February 15 attack carried out by Iran-backed Militias on an airport in Erbil, Iraq, wounded 6 people, 5 Americans, and killed one American ally.

The attack was targeted at groups such as; Kata’ib Hezbollah, who denied having anything to do with the attack on Feb. 15, and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada. The attack, however, was claimed by group Awliya al Dam, who is also said to be responsible for two other attacks on American contractor convoys back in August.

The U.S has been striking these militia bases in Syria who are said to be “responsible for recent attacks against American and allied personnel in Iraq,” The New York Times reports.
“President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq,” John Kirby, spokesman of the Pentagon, stated.

John Kirby also reported that the U.S´ strike had “destroyed multiple facilities at a border control point used by Iranian-backed militant groups”.

Seven 500-pound bombs were used in the strike on buildings that lie on an “unofficial crossing” between Syria and Iraq that is reportedly used to “smuggle across weapons and fighters”. “The good part [is that] it was a revenge attack for earlier attacks on bases,” freshman JJ Mihalik said, “[But] the bad [is that] we should be focusing on other important issues instead of a small missile strike.”

The decision to carry out the strike was one of the more “limited” options that President Biden was given as a response to the situation. Ultimately, he chose the missile strike so the situation would not spiral out of control and it would act as a reminder to Iran.

“This proportionate military response was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with coalition partners. The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and coalition personnel,” Kirby says. Some people believe that this was the wrong move, especially at a time like this. “It wasn’t really the time to do it. We have bigger issues at the moment, with the minimum wage thing and the idea of more stimulus checks and even possible lifting of mask mandates in some states,” freshman Alexia Reed says, “So adding another political issue in the mix wasn’t the best idea at all.”

Attacks have been exchanged since late 2019, in the Trump Administration, including the drone strike in January of 2020.
“Since late 2019, the United States has carried out high-profile strikes against Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria in response to sometimes deadly rocket attacks against U.S.-led forces,” U.S News says.

Tensions are high, but with luck, nothing further will escalate between the U.S and Iran and no more lives will have to be lost.