Retaliatory U.S. Airstrikes Spark Middle East Proxy Conflict

Following U.S. airstrikes on facilities used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and its proxies in Syria, the proxies retaliated by launching an attack drone at U.S. forces in western Iraq. The drone was shot down, and rockets fired into northern Syria missed American troops. The airstrikes aimed to deter further attacks, but questions remain about their effectiveness. Critics argue that the strikes were not sufficient to deter Iran and its proxies, while Biden administration officials believe that Iran does not want a war with the United States but may miscalculate due to the U.S.'s reluctance for military involvement in the region.