Early on Saturday, John Kirby conveyed the official position of the US administration regarding the effectiveness of the airstrikes conducted by the United States on Friday across territories in Iraq and Syria. "The Department of Defense is at the initial stage of assessing the damage, but we believe the attacks have been successful. At this point, we do not have information on the number of militants killed or wounded," he said. A defense department official mentioned that the targets were carefully chosen to weaken and undermine the capabilities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the organizations financially and logistically supported by them.

Kirby disclosed that the US armed forces struck more than 85 targets within seven facilities affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and related armed groups. Of these sites, three are located in Iraq and four in Syria. He noted that during the roughly 30-minute operation, US aircraft utilized over 125 precision-guided munitions.

The spokesperson highlighted that the airstrikes were directed at command and control centers, command buildings, intelligence posts, missile and drone storage facilities, and logistical hubs. "These targets were selected to avoid civilian casualties," he added.

The US also informed the Iraqi government in advance of their plans to conduct the airstrikes. This communication follows a statement from President Joe Biden that he had directed the US military to carry out strikes in Iraq and Syria against facilities used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its affiliated armed groups for attacks against American forces.

The US airstrikes were a response to a drone attack last weekend on a forward operating base near the Syrian border in Northeast Jordan, which resulted in the death of three American soldiers and injuries to more than 40 others. The incident in Jordan was the first in a recent series of Middle Eastern attacks targeting US forces that resulted in American casualties.