US Launches Counterstrike on Iranian-Backed Militia Facilities in Syria Following Ongoing Attacks against US Forces in the Middle East
US conducts airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia facilities in eastern Syria in response to attacks on US forces in the region Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirms the operation, which aims to deter further aggression
On Thursday, the US conducted airstrikes in eastern Syria, targeting two facilities that were linked to Iranian-backed militias. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed this action in response to the ongoing drone and rocket attacks against US forces in the region. The statement revealed that these facilities had been utilized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran and its associated groups.
Austin characterized the strikes, which were authorized by President Joe Biden, as "precisely targeted for self-defense." He explicitly implicated Iran in the attacks on US forces, stating, "Iran is trying to hide its involvement and deny responsibility for these assaults on our troops. We won't allow it." Austin also pledged further strikes if Iran's surrogates persist with their attacks.
Previously, the Biden administration has conducted strikes against militias. However, given the current high tension, the US aims to convey a strong message to both Iran and the militias, urging them not to escalate their attacks and trigger a larger conflict in the Middle East. This message comes at a time when the region is already on edge due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, sparked by a brutal terror attack by Hamas on October 7.
Earlier on Thursday, the United States announced the deployment of approximately 900 troops to the Middle East, with the potential for further increase. Additionally, two carrier strike groups have been relocated to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and an amphibious ready group has been positioned closer to Israel in the Middle Eastern waters.
These actions by the US come in response to a rising number of attacks targeting US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17. Up until Thursday afternoon, US forces had been subjected to at least 12 separate attacks in Iraq and four in Syria, resulting in injuries to 21 US service members. The Pentagon stated that all injuries were minor, and the troops have since returned to their duties. Furthermore, a US civilian contractor suffered a fatal heart attack due to a false alarm at one of the bases in Iraq.
On Wednesday, Biden issued a strong warning to Iran regarding the attacks by its proxies on US forces in the region. He emphasized that if Iran continued to target those troops, the US would respond and advised them to be prepared for the consequences. Biden clarified that the presence of US troops in Iraq and Syria is solely focused on defeating ISIS and not connected to the ongoing conflict in Israel.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian did not attempt to ease tensions during an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday. He warned that if the war in Gaza does not come to an end, the US "will not be spared from this fire." Earlier in the week, the minister revealed that Iran had received two messages from the US, without disclosing the delivery method or timing. The first message expressed that the US was not seeking a wider escalation of the conflict, while the second urged Iran and its partners to exercise restraint.
The most recent US strike against Iranian-backed militias in the area took place in March. The military targeted a facility which it claimed was utilized by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This action was in response to a series of drone and rocket attacks on US facilities in the region.
On Thursday, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stated that the US will continuously assert its right to self-defense. He added that if the US decides to retaliate against the drone and rocket attacks, it will do so at a time and place determined by the US.
The Defense Department is deploying additional air defenses to the Middle East due to an elevated threat of attack. These defenses include a THAAD battery, which is a medium-range air defense system, long-range Patriot batteries, and short-range Avenger air defense systems. The exact timing and locations of their arrival have not been disclosed by the Pentagon.
Additionally, the US is supplying two Iron Dome air defense systems to Israel to address its own security requirements.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
