Biden’s Pentagon Defends Syria Strikes Questioned by Democrats
- The attack targeted Iranian-backed groups active in Iraq
- Some lawmakers questioned Biden’s authority for the action
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The Biden administration defended its decision to carry out airstrikes in eastern Syria overnight, saying the sites it hit are connected to Iranian-backed groups believed to be involved in recent attacks in Iraq.
“We’re confident that these were legitimate targets utilized by groups associated with these recent attacks,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a briefing on Friday. The strikes sent an “unambiguous message” that “we will defend ourselves, that we will protect our interests. We are certainly going to act to defend our people.”