download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. But experts on the region say that Iran and its militant allies still have the arsenal and motivations to threaten the US. The US airstrikes on February 2 hit 85 targets in seven locations in Iraq and Syria, killing an estimated 40 militiamen . For militias like Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, it’s to provoke US responses that increase opposition to the 2,500 US troops based in Iraq. “By responding to the attacks, the United States poisons its relationship with local allies and screws up its position in Iraq.

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Persons: —, ” Michael Knights, Biden, Joe Biden, ” Joel Wing, Jesenia Landaverde, “, Aron Lund, they’re, They’re, ” Lund, “ They’ve, ” Nicholas Heras, ” Heras, it’s, ” Organizations: Service, Washington Institute, Business, Republican, Command, U.S . Air Force, 28th Bomb, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Staff, US Air Force, New Lines Institute, US, Coalition Locations: Iraq, Syria, Iran, U.S, S.D, United States, America, Baghdad, Lund, Gaza