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The US airstrikes launched on Iraq and Syria are meant to be retaliation for a deadly drone attack on a US military base that claimed the lives of three American soldiers.

The White House attributed the drone attack to an Iran-backed militia group, an assertion vehemently denied by Iran, which deemed the airstrikes a "strategic mistake."

The targeted strikes, hitting 85 locations across Iraq and Syria, involved several US aircraft, including long-range bombers flying from the United States.

The operation was aimed at the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militias. 

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US Airstrikes

The strikes began hours after President Joe Biden attended a repatriation ceremony for three soldiers killed in the previous drone attack.

Iran, maintaining its innocence in the drone attack, criticized the US strikes, stating they would only escalate tensions and instability in the region. Iraq echoed these sentiments, warning of "disastrous consequences" for the area.

The strikes resulted in at least 16 casualties, including civilians, and sparked condemnation from Iraq's prime minister, who labeled them a violation of sovereignty.

Syria also weighed in, asserting that the US "occupation" of Syrian territory must cease. Amidst these developments, President Biden affirmed that the US attacks would persist as needed but emphasized a lack of desire for conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else globally.

The timing of the retaliatory strikes faced criticism from US Republicans, who argued that the response was delayed. Biden Administration officials countered, saying the delay was due to weather conditions obstructing target visibility. 

This delay, according to some foreign policy experts, might have allowed Iran to withdraw personnel, potentially averting a broader conflict between the US and Iran.

Iran's foreign ministry suggested a connection between the US strikes and the interests of the "Zionist regime," referring to Israel, while Russia, a close ally of Iran, called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address the threat to peace and safety posed by the US strikes in Syria and Iraq.

The repercussions of these airstrikes are poised to shape the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.

International concerns are heightened by the potential for further escalation and the involvement of regional players in this complex scenario.