Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Thursday that the United States is preparing to take significant action against Iran-backed militias in response to recent attacks on U.S. forces and ships in the Middle East. Austin emphasized that it is time to further disable these militias, following the deaths of three U.S. service members in Jordan.
The U.S. has been hinting at potential strikes in retaliation for the recent deaths. While some militant groups have indicated a halt to hostilities due to the threat of retaliation, others like Yemen’s Houthi rebels continued their attacks, including firing a ballistic missile at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea.
Austin addressed the situation during his first press conference since his hospitalization on January 1 due to complications from prostate cancer treatment. He acknowledged that previous U.S. strikes have not deterred the attacks by Iranian-backed militant groups. Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October, these groups have targeted U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria more than 166 times using rockets, missiles, and drones. The U.S. military has responded with counterstrikes on militant facilities in both countries and has also conducted airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The attack on Tower 22 in Jordan, attributed to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias), has drawn attention to Iran’s role in supporting these groups. While Iran denies direct involvement, Austin emphasized that Iran sponsors these militias, and “without that facilitation, these kinds of things don’t happen.” The Pentagon is still investigating the details of the drone attack on Tower 22.
Austin stressed that U.S. adversaries are not likely to cease their activities after a single attack, and the U.S. is prepared to take necessary measures to protect its troops.
In the Red Sea, the Houthi rebels have targeted commercial and military vessels almost 40 times since November. The latest attack involved a ballistic missile fired at a Liberian-flagged container ship, the M/V Koi. The Houthis did not claim responsibility for the assault, but they have previously targeted ships, citing Israel’s actions in Gaza as their motivation.
The U.S. military, with assets including the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and several major warships, is actively monitoring and responding to threats in the region. They recently intercepted Houthi drones and destroyed a ground control station used by the rebels.
The situation remains tense, with the U.S. prepared to take further action to address the threats posed by Iran-backed militias and the ongoing attacks in the region.
