US secretary of state Antony Blinken&nbsp;said that he hoped the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-air-strikes-a-violation-of-sovereignty-iraq-prime-minister-394490">US strikes </a>on Iran-backed militants will "be heard and deter future action" while urging countries including allies&nbsp;to bring back citizens arrested overseas for joining the Islamic State group.

The Pentagon had said earlier that US aircraft had hit three targets - two in Syria and one in Iraq - even as Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemil-Kadhemi said it was "a blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security".

Watch:

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The US military said at least seven fighters were killed in overnight attacks as Binkin said, "A number of the groups involved in recent attacks are militia that are backed by Iran."

It was the second time the US has conducted airstrikes under Biden's administrations this year.&nbsp;

The Pentagon defended the strikes saying President Joe Biden is determined to protect US personnel as Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh accused the United States of disrupting security in the region.

"I would hope that the message sent by the strikes last night will be heard and deter future action," Blinken said.

The US reportedly targeted Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada militant outfits which are allegedly backed by Iran.

Meanwhile, Blinken urged allies to repatriate Islamic State fighters during a discussion in Rome, saying, "The United States continues to urge countries -&nbsp;including coalition partners -- to repatriate, rehabilitate and, where applicable, prosecute their citizens."&nbsp;

Several thousand Islamic State(IS) fighters are believed to be held in northern Syria by Kurdish forces. "This situation is simply untenable. It just can't persist indefinitely," Blinken asserted.

Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio however said that countries shouldn't lower their guard and look to step up action "not just in the Middle East but Africa", a statement which was backed by German foreign minister Heiko Maas.

The US secretary of state-designated Ousmane Illiassou Djibo, a Niger-born IS terrorist based in Mali, as a "specially designated global terrorist".&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that he hoped the US strikes on Iran-backed militants will "be heard and deter future action" while urging countries including allies to bring back citizens arrested overseas for joining the Islamic State group.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that he hoped the US strikes on Iran-backed militants will "be heard and deter future action" while urging countries including allies to bring back citizens arrested overseas for joining the Islamic State group. The Pentagon had said earlier that US aircraft had hit three targets - two in Syria and one in Iraq - even as Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemil-Kadhemi said it was "a blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security". Watch: The US military said at least seven fighters were killed in overnight attacks as Binkin said, "A number of the groups involved in recent attacks are militia that are backed by Iran." It was the second time the US has conducted airstrikes under Biden's administrations this year. The Pentagon defended the strikes saying President Joe Biden is determined to protect US personnel as Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh accused the United States of disrupting security in the region. "I would hope that the message sent by the strikes last night will be heard and deter future action," Blinken said. The US reportedly targeted Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada militant outfits which are allegedly backed by Iran. Meanwhile, Blinken urged allies to repatriate Islamic State fighters during a discussion in Rome, saying, "The United States continues to urge countries - including coalition partners -- to repatriate, rehabilitate and, where applicable, prosecute their citizens." Several thousand Islamic State(IS) fighters are believed to be held in northern Syria by Kurdish forces. "This situation is simply untenable. It just can't persist indefinitely," Blinken asserted. Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio however said that countries shouldn't lower their guard and look to step up action "not just in the Middle East but Africa", a statement which was backed by German foreign minister Heiko Maas. The US secretary of state-designated Ousmane Illiassou Djibo, a Niger-born IS terrorist based in Mali, as a "specially designated global terrorist". (With inputs from Agencies)

Blinken asserts US strikes 'will be heard and deter future action'

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif during a visit to Tehran on Saturday (February 27).

The visit comes two days after the United States carried out air strikes authorized by President Joe Biden against facilities belonging to Iranian-backed militia in eastern Syria , in response to rocket attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq.

Biden said Iran cannot act with impunity and warned Iran to "be careful" when asked what message he was sending the country with the strikes in Syria on Thursday (February 25).

Watch |&nbsp;

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On Saturday, Iran's top security official, Ali Shamkhani, said the strikes "encourage terrorism in the region." Shamkhani made the remarks during his meeting with Hussein.

Hussein, on his second visit to Iran in a month, later met with Zarif.

Hussein is in Iran "to discuss regional developments, including ways to balance relations and avoid tension and escalation" with Iranian officials, according to an Iraqi foreign ministry statement.

An Iraqi militia official close to Iran said the strikes killed one fighter and wounded four. U.S. officials said they were limited in scope to show Biden's administration will act firmly while trying to avoid a big regional escalation.

Shamkhani said "we will confront the U.S. plan to revive terrorism in the region", but did not elaborate.

The air strikes targeted militia sites on the Syrian side of the Iraqi-Syrian frontier, where groups backed by Iran control an important crossing for weapons, personnel and goods.

Western officials and some Iraqi officials accuse Iranian-backed groups of involvement in deadly rocket attacks on U.S. sites and personnel in Iraq over the last month.

Washington and Tehran are seeking maximum leverage in attempts to save Iran's nuclear deal reached with world powers in 2015 but abandoned in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump, after which regional tensions soared.

 
&nbsp;

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif during a visit to Tehran on Saturday (February 27). The visit comes two days after the United States carried out air strikes authorized by President Joe Biden against facilities belonging to Iranian-backed militia in eastern Syria , in response to rocket attacks against U.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif during a visit to Tehran on Saturday (February 27). The visit comes two days after the United States carried out air strikes authorized by President Joe Biden against facilities belonging to Iranian-backed militia in eastern Syria , in response to rocket attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq. Biden said Iran cannot act with impunity and warned Iran to "be careful" when asked what message he was sending the country with the strikes in Syria on Thursday (February 25). Watch | On Saturday, Iran's top security official, Ali Shamkhani, said the strikes "encourage terrorism in the region." Shamkhani made the remarks during his meeting with Hussein. Hussein, on his second visit to Iran in a month, later met with Zarif. Hussein is in Iran "to discuss regional developments, including ways to balance relations and avoid tension and escalation" with Iranian officials, according to an Iraqi foreign ministry statement. An Iraqi militia official close to Iran said the strikes killed one fighter and wounded four. U.S. officials said they were limited in scope to show Biden's administration will act firmly while trying to avoid a big regional escalation. Shamkhani said "we will confront the U.S. plan to revive terrorism in the region", but did not elaborate. The air strikes targeted militia sites on the Syrian side of the Iraqi-Syrian frontier, where groups backed by Iran control an important crossing for weapons, personnel and goods. Western officials and some Iraqi officials accuse Iranian-backed groups of involvement in deadly rocket attacks on U.S. sites and personnel in Iraq over the last month. Washington and Tehran are seeking maximum leverage in attempts to save Iran's nuclear deal reached with world powers in 2015 but abandoned in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump, after which regional tensions soared.

Iran, Iraq foreign ministers meet against backdrop of US air strikes in Syria

President Biden directed the US military to carry out airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria in retaliation against rocket attacks on US troop locations in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-hold-iran-responsible-says-us-after-rockets-target-us-embassy-in-iraqs-green-zone-365542">Iraq</a>.

Watch:

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"At President Biden's direction, US military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria," Pentagon said.

It is the first military attack carried out by the Biden administration.&nbsp;According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 17 pro-Iran fighters were killed in the airstrikes in Syria.

According to the Pentagon, the airstrikes were pointed towards &nbsp;Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah and Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada at the border control point.

"These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rockets-target-us-embassy-in-iraqi-capital-military-365520">Iraq</a>, and to ongoing threats to those personnel," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

The airstrikes come after rocket attacks on US and coalition facilities in Iraq on a military complex in the Kurdish region's capital Arbil on February 15 in which a civilian and a foreign contractor working with coalition forces were killed.

Pentagon said the strikes were "proportionate" and "conducted together with diplomatic measures".

"The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel," the Pentagon added.

President Biden directed the US military to carry out airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria in retaliation against rocket attacks on US troop locations in Iraq.

President Biden directed the US military to carry out airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria in retaliation against rocket attacks on US troop locations in Iraq. Watch: "At President Biden's direction, US military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria," Pentagon said. It is the first military attack carried out by the Biden administration. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 17 pro-Iran fighters were killed in the airstrikes in Syria. According to the Pentagon, the airstrikes were pointed towards Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah and Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada at the border control point. "These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq, and to ongoing threats to those personnel," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. The airstrikes come after rocket attacks on US and coalition facilities in Iraq on a military complex in the Kurdish region's capital Arbil on February 15 in which a civilian and a foreign contractor working with coalition forces were killed. Pentagon said the strikes were "proportionate" and "conducted together with diplomatic measures". "The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel," the Pentagon added.

US carries out airstrikes against Iran-backed militia in eastern Syria

Syria has criticised the US air raid against positions of Iran-backed fighters in east Syria, which killed one and wounded four others, describing it as a “bad sign” from the administration of new US President Joe Biden.

Syria "strongly condemns the cowardly American aggression" on Deir Ezzor province, its foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official SANA news agency.

"It is a bad sign regarding the policies of the new US administration which should adhere to international" norms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-carries-out-airstrikes-against-iran-backed-militia-in-eastern-syria-366309">Also read: US carries out airstrikes against Iran-backed militia in eastern Syria</a> 
 
President Biden directed the US military to carry out airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria in retaliation against rocket attacks on US troop locations in Iraq.

"At President Biden's direction, US military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria," Pentagon said.

It is the first military attack carried out by the Biden administration. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 17 pro-Iran fighters were killed in the airstrikes in Syria.

According to the Pentagon, the airstrikes were pointed towards Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah and Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada at the border control point.

Meanwhile, The Kremlin said that it was closely monitoring the situation in Syria following U.S. air strikes there and that it was in constant contact with the Syrian authorities.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that he could not say whether the United States had notified Russia of its plans in advance, adding that operational contacts were made through the military.

(With inputs from agencies)

Syria has criticised the US air raid against positions of Iran-backed fighters in east Syria, which killed one and wounded four others, describing it as a “bad sign” from the administration of new US President Joe Biden.

Syria has criticised the US air raid against positions of Iran-backed fighters in east Syria, which killed one and wounded four others, describing it as a “bad sign” from the administration of new US President Joe Biden. Syria "strongly condemns the cowardly American aggression" on Deir Ezzor province, its foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official SANA news agency. "It is a bad sign regarding the policies of the new US administration which should adhere to international" norms. Also read: US carries out airstrikes against Iran-backed militia in eastern Syria President Biden directed the US military to carry out airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria in retaliation against rocket attacks on US troop locations in Iraq. "At President Biden's direction, US military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria," Pentagon said. It is the first military attack carried out by the Biden administration. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 17 pro-Iran fighters were killed in the airstrikes in Syria. According to the Pentagon, the airstrikes were pointed towards Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah and Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada at the border control point. Meanwhile, The Kremlin said that it was closely monitoring the situation in Syria following U.S. air strikes there and that it was in constant contact with the Syrian authorities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that he could not say whether the United States had notified Russia of its plans in advance, adding that operational contacts were made through the military. (With inputs from agencies)

Syria denounces US strike as 'bad sign' from Biden administration