Defense Secretary Mark Esper warns that the U.S. may conduct preemptive strikes against Iranian-backed militias
The U.S. may conduct preemptive strikes against Iranian-backed militias, Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned on Thursday, adding that he expects those groups are planning further attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq.
“We are very confident that the integrity of that embassy is strong and it is highly unlikely to be physically overwhelmed,” Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said. “Anybody who attempts to overwhelm that will run into a buzz saw.” Kataib Hezbollah had been escalating the frequency and size of its rocket attacks against U.S. bases since at least October, Esper and Milley said, culminating in last week's strike. “We know that the intent of this last attack was in fact to kill” Americans, Milley said, unlike a string of smaller rocket attacks throughout the year. He did not say how he knew that or whether Iran directly ordered the lethal attack.
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