PBS News Hour

The U.S. has started a serie against Iranian-backed militias# in both Syria and Iraq tonig AMNA NAWAZ: The bombing is in# retaliation for an attack last## weekend that killed three American soldiers# and woun Nick Schifrin has been reporting on these# fast-moving developments and joins us here now.

So, Nick, what's the latest?

What can you tell us?

NICK SCHIFRIN: The U.S. military said# targets across seven locations in Iraq and Syria.

And the targets included command-and-control# and intelligence centers, as well as facilities with missiles, rockets, drones that# these groups have been using to target U.S.## soldiers.

The National Security Council# spokesman, John Kirby, said just a few## minutes ago that these targets were specifically# connected to attacks to U.

There have been more than 160 attacks# on U.S. troops across Iraq and Syria,## including the one this weekend that# killed three U.S. soldiers.

But the## targets tonight went further than any U.S.# strike, that map right there where the atta that these proxy groups have launched# against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.

But what was significant about# tonight's U.S. strikes is that## the targets went beyond these proxy groups.# The targets included the Q the part of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary# Guard Corps that sponsors these groups,## that the U.S. says provides weapons,# intelligence, and training to these groups.

And what's significant about that is, it's# the first time in the last three months we## have seen these attacks that the U.S. have# attacked Iranians.

These are Iranians,## Iranian weapons, Iranian sites.

Yes,# they are connected to the proxy groups,## but they are not the Iraqis and the Syrians# who are actually pushing the button.

These are Iranians.

And that is the# first time that we have seen that.## Also significant about these strikes,# Amna, the U.S. flew B-1 bombers th e United States in order to attack Iraq# and Syria, also something we have not seen.

A senior defense official told me that,# strategically, it is a bit of a sign to Iran## that -- a reminder that the U.S. has the ability# to fly these bombers, as well as the fact that the## bombers bring heavier bombs to hit the underground# facilities that the U.S. wants to hit, although## Kirby on the record just now denied that they# were trying to send any message to Iran tonight.

And the officials tonight reiterate something that# we have heard from U.S. officials in the past,## that this is the -- quote -- "first tier" of# a multitier response.

As President Biden put## it today: "Our response began today.

It will# continue at times and places of our choosing."

And, Amna, the day began with a reminder for the## commander in chief about the loss# that led to tonight's strikes.

It is one of the military's most solemn# rituals, at Dover Air Base in Delaware today,## the commander in chief paying respect to the# soldiers whose sacrifice was ultimate, three## caskets, holding Staff Sergeant William Rivers,# who today received a posthumous promotion, and## Sergeants Kennedy Sanders and Breonna Moffett, all# three from an engineering unit based in Georgia.

They were killed last weekend in# their beds in Tower 22 in Jordan## by a drone that U.S. officials believe# was Iranian.

Iran's military showcased## some of its attack drones just last# week.

The group that the U.S. says## fired it is part of the pro-Iranian proxy# umbrella group Islamic Resistance of Iraq.

U.S. officials indicate they did not want# to escalate, and so did not target Iran's## Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran.# In recent days, Iran seems to have sent## signals of de-escalation.

The U.N.'s nuclear# watchdog says Tehran is slowing the speed at## stockpiling enriched uranium, which it would# need if it decided to produce nuclear weapons.

And Iran's supreme leader reportedly urged# the government to distance itself from its## proxy groups, including another member# of the umbrella group Harakat al-Nujaba,## which vowed today to keep attacking U.S. troops.

Today, before the strikes,# Iran's President Ebrahim## Raisi reiterated that Iran neither# sought nor would shrink from wa EBRAHIM RAISI, Iranian President (through# translator): We have said many times we## will not initiate any war, but NI CK SCHIFRIN: U.S. officials say they# still don't have any sense at this## moment of casualties at these sites,# whether civi AMNA NAWAZ: Nick, you mentioned# the administration describes## this as the first in a multitier# NI CK SCHIFRIN: It's a good question.

Th they distinguish between different kinds# of targets that the next few days could## perhaps include.

So tonight's targets were# storage facilities, as we talked about,## command-and-control centers.

That is# distinct from targeting leadership.

So that would be another step that the U.S. could# consider.

The U.S. insists -- talked to insist that they do not plan to# target Iran itself.

But the strikes could## expand to Yemen, of course.

The ongoing U.S. and# U.K. effort in Yemen has tried to degrade Houth capacities who have launched three dozen attacks# on U.S. ships and international shipping lanes.

And U.S. officials are telling me tonight# to expect some kind of strike or some kind## of concerted effort to continue to degrade the# Houthi ability in Yemen.

As for Iran's response,## of course, it's too early to know that.

But the## administration officials I speak to say# that t They hope that it's calibrated to try# and stop these attacks from continuing## without sparking any kind of war with Iran.# There's the question of whether there's any## diplomatic talks secretly between the United# States and Iran.

Tonight, John Kirby of the## National Security Council said there had been# no communication between Iran and Washington.

But, again, what Washington is trying to do is# stop the attacks, but not go to war with Iran.

AMNA NAWAZ: Nick Schifrin with the late-breaking# news of these U.S. strikes overseas.

Nick, thank you so much.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Tha