US retaliatory airstrikes updates: White House vows to take 'more action'

Saturday's strikes in Yemen followed ones in Iraq and Syria the day prior.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Jon Haworth, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: February 4, 2024, 10:47 AM EST

The United States on Friday began to carry out airstrikes against Iran-backed militants and Iranian military targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a drone attack on an American base in Jordan on Jan. 28 that killed three U.S. service members.

Dozens of other American troops were wounded in the drone attack on the Tower 22 base near Jordan's border with Iraq and Syria. The U.S. says Iran is responsible for funding and arming the militants while Iran has denied involvement.

U.S. President Joe Biden had quickly warned that America would respond forcefully, escalating U.S. involvement in the Middle East after months of trying to contain tensions from boiling over into a broader war in the region.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 2, 1:59 pm

What we know about the drone attack on US base in Jordan

The U.S. has attributed the drone attack on the American base in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias.

According to a U.S. official, the drone that successfully hit the base was an Iranian-made Shahed drone, similar to those used by the Russians on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Iran has denied involvement in the Jordan strike. But President Joe Biden earlier this week faulted Iran for providing munitions and funding to these different proxy groups.

The U.S. base is known as Tower 22, a major logistical hub for U.S. troops still in Syria on a mission to prevent a resurgence by Islamic State fighters. According to Central Command, there are approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel deployed to the base.

In this Maxar satellite image, Tower 22, which houses a small number of U.S. troops, is shown in northern Jordan.
2024 Maxar Technologies via Getty Images

Feb 02, 2024, 4:48 PM EST

US strikes aimed at more than 85 targets, targeted Iran's IRGC and militia groups: CENTCOM

In a new statement, U.S. Central Command said American 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 struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States," CENTCOM said. "The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions. The facilities that were struck included command and control operations, centers, intelligence centers, rockets, and missiles, and unmanned aired vehicle storages, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces."

A B1B Lancer flies over the skies of Iraq in this U.S. Air Force file photo.
Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz/U.S. Air Force, FILES

According to a U.S. official, B-1 bombers were used in the retaliatory strikes.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty

Feb 02, 2024, 4:17 PM EST

US begins retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria, officials say

Retaliatory U.S. airstrikes have begun in Syria and Iraq, U.S. officials say.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

The Biden administration is responding to drone attacks by an Iran-backed militia that killed three U.S. soldiers.
8:19

US begins retaliatory military strikes in Syria and Iraq

The Biden administration is responding to drone attacks by an Iran-backed militia that killed three U.S. soldiers.
ABCNews.com
Feb 02, 2024, 3:59 PM EST

Correction: Initial round of strikes not from US

An initial battery of strikes in Syria did not come from the U.S., sources say. U.S. strikes are still anticipated.

Feb 02, 2024, 3:08 PM EST

Blinken, in coming Middle East visit, to continue work on preventing wider conflict

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East from Sunday to Thursday, making stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank.

It will mark Blinken’s fifth visit to the region since Oct. 7.

One focus, according to the State Department, will be to continue work to prevent the conflict from spreading -- a major concern as the U.S. readies retaliatory strikes -- while also “reaffirming that the United States will take appropriate steps to defend its personnel and the right to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”