The United States attacked pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq and Syria, on Friday (2), in retaliation for the death of three of its soldiers in Jordan, which generated this Saturday (3) strong condemnation from both sides. countries and Iran, Washington and Israel’s regional arch-rival.

At least 23 pro-Iran fighters have died in eastern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). Its previous balance was 18 dead.

In Iraq, the government reported 16 deaths, including civilians.

The United States said it launched the bombings in response to the January 28 attack on a base in Jordan, near the border with Syria, in which three American soldiers died and which Washington blames on Iranian-backed groups.

American reprisals contribute to “increasing the conflict in the Middle East in an extremely dangerous way”, reacted the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a note.

Baghdad denounced a “violation of Iraqi sovereignty” and stated that these attacks raise fears of “disastrous consequences for the security and stability of Iraq and the region”.

In a first reaction, Iraqi authorities announced that they will summon the American chargé d’affaires in Baghdad.

Iran “strongly” condemned the bombings, calling them a “strategic error”, and warned that they could “aggravate tensions and instability in the region”.

We must all “avoid escalation” in the Middle East and do our utmost to ensure that the situation there does not become “explosive”, appealed the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

In total, American forces attacked 85 targets at seven different points (four in Syria and three in Iraq).

The operation lasted around 30 minutes and was “a success”, declared the White House, reiterating, however, that it does not want a “war” with Iran.

“The United States does not seek conflicts in the Middle East, nor anywhere else in the world. But let all those who want to harm us know: if they harm an American, we will respond”, stressed President Joe Biden.

“Our response began today. It will continue at the time and in the places we choose,” the president said in a statement.

– End of the “occupation” –

These attacks caused “the deaths of several civilians and soldiers, as well as injuries and significant damage,” the Syrian army said in a statement.

“The occupation of certain parts of Syrian territory by American forces cannot continue,” denounced the Syrian Armed Forces.

Around 900 American soldiers are deployed in Syria, and another 2,500 in neighboring Iraq, as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition created to combat the Islamic State (IS) group, which, almost ten years ago, came to control large areas of both the countries.

The defeat of the IS group was announced in 2019 in Syria and, in 2017, in Iraq, but the coalition remained to combat jihadist cells that continue to launch attacks.

The White House said it had warned Baghdad about the attacks in advance, which the Iraqi government denied on Saturday.

The American Army took action shortly after the arrival of the remains of the three deceased soldiers in Jordan, a solemn act that was attended by President Biden.

– 165 attacks –

Since mid-October, more than 165 drone and rocket attacks have targeted American forces deployed with the anti-jihadist coalition in Iraq and Syria, but no American service members had died until the January 28 attack in Jordan.

Claimed, for the most part, by a nebula of fighters from pro-Iran groups that call themselves the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq”, these attacks have multiplied since the start of the war in Gaza, on October 7, between the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Israel, a close ally of the United States.

Campaigning for a second term, Biden found himself under intense pressure to respond to the deaths of these soldiers. In this sense, the government warned that the reprisals will be multiple, against different targets and staggered over time.

According to Allison McManus, from the American think tank Center for American Progress, the attacks represent a “significant escalation”, but will not have much impact.

“We have not seen similar retaliatory attacks with a deterrent effect,” said the expert.