The United States is not planning to make any changes to its posture in the Middle East amid a surge of attacks on its troops and facilities in the region since October, Joint Chiefs of Staff Director of Operations Douglas Sims said.
"In terms of force structure [in the Middle East], no, no conversation now about adjusting forces in the area of operations," Sims said during a press briefing.
Sims noted that the strikes conducted by the B1 bombers that flew to the region from bases in the United States demonstrate there is no need to add new capabilities to the Middle East to protect US troops or deter adversaries.
He added that the United States is not tracking any retaliatory attacks in response to its strikes on targets in Iraq and Syria.
The Iraqi military issued a statement saying the US strikes on targets in Iraq represent a violation of the country's sovereignty and undermine the Iraqi government's efforts to stabilize the situation, which can have unforeseen consequences for the country and the region.
A source in the Iraqi security services told Sputnik that the headquarters of the operational command of Shiite militia forces in Al Anbar Governorate in western Iraq could be the target of the new US airstrikes in Iraq.
"Initial information indicates that the US airstrikes targeted the headquarters of the operational command of the militia forces in the Akashat area in western Al Anbar province. According to preliminary information, the explosion also targeted the headquarters of the Shield group of the 13th brigade in Akashat," the source said.
Three US soldiers were killed on Sunday and more than 40 were injured in a drone attack on the US military outpost in the northeast of Jordan near the border with Syria. President Joe Biden blamed unspecified allegedly Iran-backed militant groups, but said the United States was still gathering the facts about the attack. Iran has denied playing any role in the attack.
A local source told Sputnik that a fire started at a US base at the Conoco gas field in eastern Syria, following reports that the site came under rocket fire in the wake of the US strikes.