US orders reprisal strikes against Iranian-backed militia

News Snapshot:

The US has ordered a series of reprisal strikes to be launched over more than one day against an Iranian-backed militia, the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has said. Austin said all drones in the region attacking the US were of Iranian origin. The attacks are expected to hit militia in Syria and possibly Iraq, though Austin did not specify the timing or precise location. “We will have a multi-tier response and we have the ability to respond a number of times depending on the situation,” he said at a Pentagon press conference on Thursday. “We look to hold the...