President Joe Biden has ordered an airstrike in Syria, targeting a structure belonging to an Iran-backed militia. The strike is the first of the Biden presidency and is being seen as a response to rocket attacks on US targets in Iraq. News of the strike was first reported by Reuters, who said the news came from two unnamed sources. 

Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has commented on the matter so far, but news of the strike has made its way to social media. Many users on Twitter have slammed Biden for the strike, especially after the slow rollout of Biden's stimulus package. 

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Attack gives Iran breathing space

The attack on Syria gives the Iranian government some breathing space, as it looks into the February 15 rocket attacks in Iraq. The attack hit the US military base housed at Erbil International Airport. As a result of the attack, a number of US contractors and a US service member were wounded. One non-American contractor was also killed. On February 22, rockets also hit the Iraq Green Zone where the US embassy is housed.

It is unclear who exactly is responsible for the attacks, since the Kataib Hezbollah group, one of the main Iran-aligned Iraqi militia groups, denied responsibility. According to experts, the attacks are being carried out by smaller groups with links to Kataib Hezbollah, giving Iran a way to strike US forces without being held accountable. The most recent strike is just one of the many retaliatory strikes conducted by the US in the region. Under the Trump administration, the most high-profile strike was one that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, bringing Iran and the US on the brink of war. 

The low-level strike is seen by experts as a warning to Iran while allowing the US to lower the risk of escalation. That is why Syria was chosen as a target, with the war-torn nation acting as a proxy for Iran. It is not clear at this time if the strike caused any significant damage or if there were any casualties. This is of significance as Washington and Tehran are currently looking for ways to return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Trump abandoned. 

Twitter Upset at Biden

As the news made its way to social media, many users shared their anger and disappointment with Biden. One said, "Everyone asking “where’s our Covid Relief package??” It was delivered to Syria today. @JoeBiden doesn’t care about America." Another, expressing shock said "Jesus. Biden didn't wait long." One joked "I’m shocked it took @JoeBiden this long to start a war. He did say his presidency would be a return to normal!" One user criticized Biden for the slow rollout of stimulus checks, saying, "I’m still waiting for my money btw. @JoeBiden no rush tho, I’m sure you’re busy doing whatever you’re doing."

 

 

One user highlighted the divided state of politics and tweeted, "Joe Biden is imitating Trump—dropping bombs early in the administration to look tough. The same neocons who criticized Trump's move will shower praise on Biden."

It is very likely that this is the first of many strikes that Biden will order, with Iraq and the US involved in conflicts in multiple fronts. Wars in Syria and Yemen are being treated as proxy wars between the two nations, while America looks to limit Iranian nuclear capabilities.