US launches military strikes in Iraq and Syria in response to fatal drone attack

The US has begun its “retaliatory” air strikes in Iraq and Syria after the fatal drone attack in Jordan which killed three US troops, officials have said.

The strikes were launched on Friday evening, just under a week after Sgt William Rivers, 46, specialist (Spc) Kennedy Sanders, 24, and Spc Breonna Moffet, 23, were killed and around 40 others were injured when a drone hit a US military desert outpost in Jordan.

In a statement, the US military said more than 85 targets were hit with numerous aircraft with over 125 precise munitions.

It added that facilities that were struck include command and control operations, intelligence centres, rockets, missiles, unmanned aired vehicle storages, logistics and munition supply chain facilities.

Syrian state media said “US aggression” led to a number of sites on Syria’s desert areas and the Syrian-Iraqi border being hit, leading to “a number of casualties and injuries.”

The strikes are believed to be just the first in a multi-tiered response by President Joe Biden’s administration in response to the attacks by Iran-backed militants, Reuters reported.

Iran has denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.