As previously reported on Thursday and Friday, Biden administration officials had publicly disclosed the anticipated timeframe for retaliatory strikes following the death of three American service members caused by an Iranian drone.
Subsequently, on February 3-4, the U.S. executed planned airstrikes on Iranian targets in Iraq and Syria in response to the shelling of a U.S. base in Jordan, as reported by U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
The Journal’s sources emphasized that the measures taken would be “multi-layered.” This information was shared on social media, with various individuals expressing their opinions on the matter. A tweet from NEXTA, on February 2, 2024, included a video discussing the situation, with additional commentary from Jon Gabriel and John Hasson expressing their views.
BREAKING:
US confirms it has struck 85 targets in Iraq and Syria tonight, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Iranian) positions. pic.twitter.com/QZc0JhJcVa
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 2, 2024
The situation evolved further when an official from the U.S. Department of Defense informed Sky News Arabia that B-1 bombers had left Lakenheath Air Base in Britain for a mission towards the Middle East. This development was also reported by Insider Paper on the same day.
Criticism was directed at the Biden administration for allegedly providing advanced notice of the impending strikes. Some argued that such warnings could have allowed targets to evacuate, potentially minimizing casualties. Reports indicated that the strike resulted in 16 casualties and two dozen wounded individuals, with targets including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Iranian) positions in Iraq and Syria.
The aftermath sparked discussions on social media, with varying opinions on the effectiveness of the operation. Some questioned the significance of the strikes, speculating that the advanced warnings might have influenced the limited casualties. Others raised concerns about the reported civilian casualties and expressed skepticism about the true impact on Iran’s regime.
In a broader context, individuals also referenced past events, such as Joe Biden’s release of $6 billion in oil money to Iran the previous year, linking it to the broader geopolitical landscape and decisions made during the Iran nuclear deal negotiations involving Biden’s former boss and John Kerry. The mention of these past events raised questions and opinions regarding the Biden administration’s approach to Iran.
