Good evening everyone. We begin the readout tonight with breaking news. The US has

launched new airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation

for a drone attack that killed three American soldiers.

Here's the first video that we're seeing from the region, and Iraqi security officials said

a US airstrike targeted a weapons warehouse in three houses belonging to Katib Hezbollah in Anbar province in Western Iraq.

The strikes come the same day President Biden attended the dignified transfer of the soldiers

killed in the strike in Jordan that the U.S. has attributed to

Iranian-backed militant groups.

Late today, U.S. Central Command posted that forces conducted the airstrikes against

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Kud's force, and affiliated militia groups.

U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from the United States.

President Biden released a statement saying in part, quote,

our response began today, it will continue at times and places of our choosing.

The United States does not seek conflict in the middle at times and places of our choosing.

The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East

or anywhere else in the world,

but let all those who might seek to do us harm,

know this.

If you harm an American, we will respond.

Let me bring in NBC News, Chief International Correspondent

Kieer Simmons in Iraq.

NBC News, Chief Ford Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell,

...