US airstrikes – live: Iraq warns Middle East on ‘brink of the abyss’ after reports of 40 killed

Independent -Feb 3rd2024

Overnight the US struck 85 targets at seven facilities across Syria and Iraq as part of the retaliatory strikes in response to the deaths of three American soldiers.

The strikes, which Iraq condemned as a “new aggression against Iraq’s sovereignty”, reportedly killed 40 people. The US used over 125 precision munitions to strike command and control operation centers, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles and more used by Iran-backed militias.

The overnight strikes are the first of what is expected to be more strikes as a response to the three soldiers who were killed in Jordan in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants.

Iraq has warned that the strikes would only heighten tensions in the region where already the stakes are high.

“This aggressive strike will put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of the abyss, and it also contradicts efforts to establish the required stability,” an Iraq official said.