HIT OVERNIGHT WERE A WEAPONS
STORAGE AREA AND AN AMMUNITIONS
STORAGE AREA.
IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THERE WAS ANY
CASUALTIES.
OVERNIGHT A DRAMATIC LOCATION.
THE PENTAGON SAYS WERE USED BY
GROUPS LINKED TO IRAN.
DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN
CALLING THEM SELF-DEFENSE
STRIKES THAT WERE A RESPONSE TO
A SERIES OF DEFENSE STRIKES.
THE PENTAGON SAYS THERE HAS BEEN
AT LEAST 19 ATTACKS ON U.S.
BASES IN IRAN AND SYRIA IN THE
LAST 19 DAYS.
THE STRIKES MEANT TO DETER IRAN.
AUSTIN SAYING, QUOTE, IRAN WANTS
TO DENY ITS ROLE IN ATTACKS
AGAINST FORCES.
WE WILL NOT LET THEM.
>> WE KNOW THESE ARE IRANIAN
IRANIAN-BACKED MILITIA GROUPS
THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY IRAN.
AND, OF COURSE, WE HOLD IRAN
RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE GROUPS.
>> Reporter: THE NEW U.S. AIR
STRIKES COME AFTER PRESIDENT
BIDEN DELIVERED THIS STARK BIDEN
TO OUR LEADER ON WEDNESDAY.
>> MY WARNING TO THE AYATOLLAH
WAS WE WILL RESPOND, AND HE
SHOULD BE PREPARED.
>> Reporter: AMID RISING
TENSIONS IN THE REGION, THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS WALKING
A FINE LINE, HITTING
IRANIAN-BACKED GROUPS ACCUSED OF
TARGETING THE U.S. IN AN EFFORT
TO DETER FUTURE AGGRESSION, BUT
NOT WANTING TO PROVOKE A WIDER
WAR.
A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL
TELLING NBC NEWS STRIKES ARE
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM THE
DIPLOMACY SURROUNDING THE WAR,
ADDING THEY HAVE TO DO WITH
RESTORING DETERRENTS AND GOING