The US military launched retaliatory air strikes against Iranian forces and Tehran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria on Friday, killing at least 18 fighters, following a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan.

The United States blamed the Sunday drone attack on Iran-backed forces but did not strike the country’s territory in response, with Washington seeking to deter future attacks while stopping short of all-out war with Tehran — something both sides have sought to avoid.

“Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.

“The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond,” he added.

Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces.

We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world.

But to all those who seek to do us harm: We will respond.

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 2, 2024

The strikes targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force as well as “affiliated militia groups,” with American forces hitting “more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

“The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions,” CENTCOM said, adding that the targets included command and control and intelligence centers as well as rocket, missile and drone storage facilities belonging to militia groups and Iranian forces “who facilitated attacks against US and coalition forces.”

CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria

At 4:00 p.m. (EST) Feb. 02, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces… pic.twitter.com/HeLMFDx9zY

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 2, 2024

The strikes killed at least 18 pro-Iran fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told journalists that the strikes lasted about 30 minutes, though they involved a lengthy trip for the B-1 bombers that took part after flying from the United States. 

He said the Defense Department is still assessing damage from the strikes — which hit dozens of targets at seven separate facilities — but that the United States believes the raids were successful, and made clear that more would follow.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that at least 26 major sites housing pro-Iranian groups were destroyed in Syria, including weapons depots.

A weapons warehouse and a command center belonging to pro-Iranian groups were also targeted in western Iraq, along the Syrian border, two Iraq security sources told AFP, resulting in at least “some injuries.” 

The strikes represent a “significant escalation,” according to Allison McManus, managing director for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress.

But she was skeptical about the impact, adding: “We have not seen that similar tit-for-tat strikes have had a deterrent effect.”

Iraq, whose prime minister called for the departure of international troops after a previous US strike in Baghdad, condemned the latest military action as a violation of its sovereignty.

Kirby said Washington “did inform the Iraqi government prior to the strikes,” but did not elaborate on Baghdad’s private response to that information.

Biden — who had vowed to strike back against those responsible for the drone attack in Jordan — earlier Friday attended a solemn military ritual at a Delaware air base for the return of the three dead soldiers.

The secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General CQ Brown, also attended what is known as a “dignified transfer” — their presence highlighting the importance, as well as relative rarity, of returning dead service members in the wake of the US exit from Afghanistan in 2021.

The three soldiers killed Sunday were the first US military deaths from hostile fire in the Middle East since the October 7 Hamas surprise attack on Israel that sparked a devastating Israeli assault on Gaza, which has stoked tensions and violence in the region and dragged it ever closer to an all-out conflict.

US and coalition troops have been attacked more than 165 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since mid-October with weapons including drones, rockets and short-range ballistic missiles.

Dozens of American personnel were wounded in previous attacks, many of which have been claimed by a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that opposes US support for Israel in the Gaza conflict and wants American troops out of the region.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels meanwhile began targeting international shipping in November, sparking US and British air strikes aimed at reducing their ability to hit commercial vessels.

Two SEALS — among the most elite special forces in the US military — were declared dead after being lost at sea during an operation to seize Iranian weapons bound for the Huthis on a ship off the coast of Somalia.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A city chief of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena was shot at by a BJP legislator last night near Mumbai, said police. Ganpat Gaikwad fired at Mahesh Gaikwad at a police station allegedly over a land dispute and has been detained.

Ganpat Gaikwad represents the Kalyan East constituency in Kalyan, about 40 km from Mumbai. His party is in alliance with Mr Shinde’s Sena in the Maharashtra government.

Two people were injured in the firing, said Sudhakar Pathare, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

The two sides had come to Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar over a land dispute, but the MLA opened fire during the heated talks. The Sena leader and another supporter injured in the firing were taken to a hospital immediately.

Five bullets have been taken out from his body, but his condition remains critical.

Ganpat Gaikwad, who was detained following the incident, told a news channel that the issue was over a land that Mahesh Gaikwad had allegedly captured. He claimed he opened fire in self-defence since they were misbehaving with his son.

“Mahesh Gaikwad and Ganpat Gaikwad had some dispute. They had come to Hill Line police station to lodge a complaint, but Ganpat Gaikward opened fire at Mahesh Gaikwad and his associates during the talks. Two people were injured,” said Mr Pathare.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena has slammed the government for failing to ensure law and order.

“A BJP MLA opened fire inside the police station and the person who was shot is close to the Chief Minister and a former corporator. Both their parties are in power, so should we understand that these people have no fear of the law? Both engines of the state government have failed,” said Uddhav faction spokesperson Anand Dubey.

The Shiv Sena had split in 2022 after Eknath Shinde revolted against then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and formed government with the BJP’s help. The Election Commission had last year ruled in favour of Mr Shinde over the party’s legacy.

A team of the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch came to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s home again today to serve notice in a case over his allegation that the BJP tried to buy Aam Aadmi Party MLAs.

The Crime Branch teams had gone to Mr Kejriwal and Delhi minister Atishi’s homes yesterday too to serve notice. Officials at Mr Kejriwal’s home, however, refused to take the notice, and Atishi was not at home, news agency PTI reported.

Sources said the Crime Branch wants to hand over the notice to Mr Kejriwal personally.

The Delhi BJP had filed a complaint to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, saying the allegations by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders were serious.

“We had said Kejriwal is making false allegations. The truth behind Kejriwal’s lie is about to be exposed now. He cannot lie and then run away from an investigation,” Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said.

Last week, the AAP alleged the BJP offered Rs 25 crore each to seven of its MLAs to quit the party, and threatened to topple the Kejriwal government.

Atishi had told reporters the BJP has launched “Operation Lotus 2.0” in Delhi, referring to the BJP’s election symbol, and a term that the Opposition frequently uses against the BJP for alleged attempts to topple state governments.

“They had made a similar attempt to poach AAP MLAs last year by offering them money, but failed,” Atishi had said.

Mr Sachdeva, the Delhi BJP chief, after meeting the police chief on January 30 demanded Mr Kejriwal must prove his allegations. So far no one from the AAP has come with evidence, Mr Sachdeva said, adding this proves the allegation is baseless.