The attack followed an incident earlier that day in which eight members of an Iran-supported militia were killed when a drone struck their vehicle traveling from the village of al-Kishmah to al-Duwair, near the strategic al-Bukamal border crossing between Iraq and Syria.
No one took responsibility for the killing of the eight militiamen. Israel sometimes strikes Iranian targets in this area, which constitutes a vital node on the Iranian arms route leading from Iran itself to Lebanon, the Mediterranean, and Israel.
However, the balance of probabilities suggests that these particular eight gunmen died not at the hands of Israeli ordnance, but rather as a result of action by the US-led coalition in Syria.
Understanding this sudden flare-up requires a deeper look at the events of the last seven days. READ MORE