On the 25th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden is holding a mask at an event commemorating the breakthrough of 50 million corona19 vaccinations. Reuters = Yonhap News
On the 25th (local time), the US air raided a facility in Syria used by pro-Iran militias. This is the first military action of the Biden administration in response to casualties caused by a rocket attack on a US military base in the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq on the 15th.
Defense Ministry spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that day, “At the order of President Biden, we raided the infrastructure in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militias early this evening.” Several facilities near the border that were used by a number of Iranian aid militias, including Sayid Al Shuhada, were destroyed.”
“Retaliation for attacks on US bases in Iraq”
“The air strike was approved as a response to the recent attacks and ongoing threats against Americans and coalition troops in Iraq,” said Kirby. The US media, including the New York Times (NYT), described this as a’retaliatory strike’.
In the attack on the 15th, a Filipino subcontractor who worked with the Allied forces was killed. In addition, one Louisiana National Guard and four US subcontractors were injured.
The debris scattered by a rocket attack in the Erbil area on the 15th of this month. Reuters = Yonhap News
US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said in a statement shortly after the attack that “we asked the Kurdish government to investigate the facts and identify who was in charge.” Accordingly, it was observed that the Biden administration, unlike the Trump administration, focuses more on managing the situation through diplomatic solutions rather than direct military response, and it launched a retaliatory attack immediately after 11 days. “The message of this operation is clear,” said Kirby. President Biden will act to protect the United States and allied forces.”
“Biden Approves Targets More Limited Than Pentagon Proposal”
Meanwhile, Kirby said, “At the same time, we operated to ensure that the overall situation in eastern Syria and Iraq did not deteriorate,” using the expression’proportionate military response.’ About this The NYT said, “To avoid diplomatic impact with the Iraqi government, the air strikes took place just inside the Syrian border.” Reported.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. AP=Yonhap News
Diplomats predict that the first military action undertaken by the Biden administration will not have little implications for North Korea. The situation in North Korea and the Middle East is completely different, but President Biden has revealed the big principles of the’Road States Countermeasure Law’ through this air strike.
‘Bad country, do not treat only words’ message
In particular, the attack on the pro-Iran militia while negotiations to restore the nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran are imminent can be seen as a warning for suppression in the message that military options as well as diplomatic options are not excluded.
In response, Kim Hong-gyun, former head of the Korean Peninsula Peace Bargaining Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “This situation cannot be immediately applied to the North Korean issue.” “However, if it is judged that North Korea’s nuclear and missile development poses a threat not only to the US mainland, but also to US soldiers and civilians residing in South Korea and Japan, or to harm allies, the Biden administration is not just talking, but to a limited extent. It may be sending a message that it does not rule out the option of using military power within the country.”Said.
Reporter Yoo Ji-hye [email protected]
