US strikes Syria sites used by Iran, its proxies after attacks on American troops

The United States has carried out strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups in response to a recent series of attacks against American personnel based in Iraq and Syria by Tehran-backed militias, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday.

US bases and personnel in the Middle East have been targeted in a slew of drone and missile attacks since October 17.

In assaults that used drones to target al-Asad Airbase in Iraq and al-Tanf Garrison in Syria, an American contractor for the US military died from a cardiac arrest while sheltering during one of the strikes and 21 US soldiers were lightly injured before returning to duty shortly thereafter, the Pentagon said.

US President Joe Biden “directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will not tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said in a statement.

Austin stressed that the US “does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against US forces are unacceptable and must stop.” READ MORE