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The U.S. lauched air-strikes against Iran backed militias in Syria and Iraq. Three 'operational and weapons storage facilities' were targeted, according to the U.S. military. Washington said the militias had recently conducted drone attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. The 'defensive' strikes were directed by President Joe Biden, the Pentagon said. The military action was the 2nd time Biden  has ordered the use of force in the region. Secretary of State  Anthony Blinken said it showed Biden is 'prepared' to protect US personnel. The Iraqi government called the move an unacceptable violation of its sovereignty. The Iran-backed militias vowed revenge. Air Strikes on Militia The US military air strikes on the evening of the 27th on "the facilities used by Iran-backed militias in the Iraq-Syria border area," specifically, two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq. "Command and weapons storage facilities." The US Department of Defense said that s...

Pope Francis Arrival in Iraq   Francisco undertakes his visit in Iraq amid high security measures and in the midst of a pandemic, in order to comfort one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. The Supreme Pontiff's plane took off at dawn on Friday, March 5, 2021, from Fiumicino, Rome's main airport. The 84-year-old Francis assured that he will make this first visit of a Pope to Iraq as a "pilgrim of peace." He also said that he will reach out to Shia Muslims in a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the highest religious authority of this branch of Islam. During this three-day visit to several cities, the Pope will find few people to receive him, due to a total confinement decreed in the country, where the number of cases this week has broken a record since the start of the pandemic, with more than 5,000 infected daily. Journey marked by the pandemic The head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, who has said he feels "caged" in recent mo...

President Biden issued an order to strike Syria The U.S. Department of Defense issued a statement on the 25th that the U.S. military launched air strikes against Iran-backed militia targets in eastern Syria and destroyed many facilities earlier in the day. U.S. officials say the strike was under President Biden's direction and was authorized in response to the February 15th rocket attacks against American and coalition personnel in Iraq. The specific targets of the air strikes were three large trucks carrying ammunition located in Syria and on the border of Iraq. US Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby said that these targets were used by the armed militias "Kata'ib Hezbollah" and others, and they were supported by Iran. The airstrike was Biden's first confirmed military operation since he became president.  The US airstrike killed 17 pro-Iranian militias who belonged to the Hashd al-Shaabi militia.   The military action comes as Washington and Tehran a...