{"id":45782,"date":"2024-02-03T11:58:09","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T19:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/?p=45782"},"modified":"2024-02-03T11:58:09","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T19:58:09","slug":"as-biden-bombs-syria-and-iraq-80-groups-push-gaza-cease-fire-to-avert-wider-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2024\/02\/03\/as-biden-bombs-syria-and-iraq-80-groups-push-gaza-cease-fire-to-avert-wider-war\/","title":{"rendered":"As Biden Bombs Syria and Iraq, 80 Groups Push Gaza Cease-Fire to Avert Wider War"},"content":{"rendered":"

As U.S. forces on Friday launched intense airstrikes against Syria and Iraq in retaliation for this week’s deadly drone strike on an American outpost in Jordan, scores of advocacy groups urged President Joe Biden to avoid a wider Mideast war by pressing Israel for a cease-fire in Gaza.<\/p>\n

According to<\/a> U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American warplanes struck Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and “affiliated militia groups” in Syria and Iraq \u2013 countries that have suffered various degrees of U.S. bombardment since 2014 and 1991, respectively.<\/p>\n

This, after U.S. and U.K.-led airstrikes<\/a> last month targeted Houthi fighters in Yemen amid attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States,” CENTCOM said Friday. “The facilities that were struck included command and control operations, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, unmanned aired vehicle storages, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and coalition forces.”<\/p>\n

Anti-war voices condemned the latest bombings in the 22-year, open-ended U.S. War on Terror, during which millions<\/a> of lives have been lost and trillions of dollars spent. A coalition of 80 advocacy groups sent a letter<\/a> to Biden imploring his administration to eschew war by “leading with diplomacy.”<\/p>\n

“We fear that, as tensions continue in this escalatory spiral, the U.S. could become engaged in a protracted new war that spans across the entire region,” the groups wrote. “To avoid such an unacceptable outcome, we urge you to prioritize diplomatic pathways to de-escalation, which must include urgently pressing for and securing a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.”<\/p>\n

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NEW: @QuincyInst<\/a> joined @WinWithoutWar<\/a> @FCNL<\/a> @NIACouncil<\/a> @yemenrrf<\/a> & 75 orgs. urging @POTUS<\/a> to avoid a wider war in the Middle East by "leading with diplomacy" pressing for a #CeasefireNOW<\/a> to stop the violence and prevent further escalation. https:\/\/t.co\/hBKe1zUrhp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Mk4WEp19p8<\/a><\/p>\n

— Quincy Institute (@QuincyInst) February 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n