CONTACT: Mana Mostatabi | 202.386.6325 x103 | mmostatabi@niacouncil.org Washington DC—NIAC Policy Director Ryan Costello issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s retaliatory strike on a facility used by Iraqi Shia militias who had allegedly attacked coalition forces in Iraq: “We are concerned that President Biden’s first instinct when it comes to regional security in the Middle East appears to be to reach for military options instead of diplomacy. President Trump proved that responding to rocket fire in Iraq with airstrikes is not a recipe for restoring deterrence or securing American troops. Moreover, it is unclear what Congressional authorization could logically apply to attacking a militia target in Syria.