President Biden said the US air strikes on Iraq and Syria on Friday night are the beginning of the White House’s response to a deadly drone attack at a US base in Jordan.

The US carried out airstrikes on 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, targeting command and control headquarters, intelligence centres and storage facilities.

Joe Biden had vowed to deliver a decisive response, but insisted the US did not want a wider war with Iran. However the US president warned that those who harm Americans will be punished.

“This afternoon, at my direction, US military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack US forces.

“Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing.

“The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.”

Senior White House sources stressed on Friday that US action would not include any strikes on targets within Iran itself.

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