Biden called off second Syria strike after last minute warning of woman and children at target site
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Joe Biden called off an airstrike on a second target in Syria at the last minute after intelligence reported the presence of a woman and children at the site.
Following 10 days of deliberations, Mr Biden had ordered the Pentagon to proceed with two strikes on targets within Syria on 26 February, in response to the rocket attack against US forces in northern Iraq on 15 February.
The president received an urgent warning from an aide just 30 minutes before the bombs were set to fall, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.
Battlefield reconnaissance reported a woman with children in a courtyard at one site, and the president cancelled the order to strike that target.
The attack on the first target went ahead.
The intention of the strike was to signal to leadership in Iran that the new administration would respond to provocation in the Middle East but is not seeking to escalate tensions.
The Journal reports officials as saying that a confidential message was also sent to Tehran following the strike to reinforce the point.
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