First, Hamas attacked Israel, igniting a local war. Then the Houthis fired on ships, drawing in the U.S. Navy. Now the U.S .is bombing Iraq, Syria and Yemn as part of a tense standoff with Iran.

After two days of widespread military operations in the Middle East, American officials say the airstrikes against Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen are just the beginning.

Who was targeted in Syria and Iraq, and why? The strikes on Friday came in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan on Jan. 28.

British forces on Saturday joined their American allies in new attacks against militia in Yemen. Tensions have been rising in the region since the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7.

Who was targeted in Syria and Iraq, and why? The strikes on Friday came in retaliation for the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan on Jan. 28.

The Euphrates River cuts through Syria into Iraq, with U.S. troops and American-backed Kurdish-led fighters on the east bank and Iran-backed fighters and Syrian government forces to the west.

U.S. not planning endless campaign in Iraq, Syria, Yemen Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

While both the US and UK back al-Sharaa's new Islamist HTS government, Islamic State has vowed to fight for a Syrian ...

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is chipping away at Iran’s regional influence. He is urging Syria and Lebanon to join the ...

Syria is suspected to still hold stocks of sarin, according to a CIA contractor, ... Iraq, Syria and Yemen supported by Tehran to counter the U.S. and Israel. ...

First, Hamas attacked Israel, igniting a local war. Then the Houthis fired on ships, drawing in the U.S. Navy. Now the U.S .is bombing Iraq, Syria and Yemn as part of a tense standoff with Iran.

What to know about the US strikes in Iraq and Syria and its attacks with the UK in Yemen The Saturday strikes hit 36 Houthi targets in 13 locations in Yemen.