Eight pro-Iran fighters dead in US strikes in Syria

U.S. airstrikes in eastern Syria resulted in the death of at least eight fighters aligned with Iran, as reported by a war monitoring group on Monday. These strikes, which occurred late Sunday in the regions of Mayadeen and Albu Kamal in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province near the Iraqi border, were in retaliation for assaults on American forces. Among the casualties were individuals of Syrian and Iraqi nationality.

This action by the United States was confirmed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who stated that the strikes targeted two locations connected to Iran in Syria. These sites were hit in response to increasing attacks on U.S. forces in the region. Over the past few weeks, this marks the third instance of U.S. military action against sites in Syria linked to Iran. The U.S. holds Iran responsible for supporting armed groups that have escalated attacks against its personnel in the Middle East.

According to Austin’s statement, the U.S. military precisely targeted facilities in eastern Syria utilized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-affiliated groups. These strikes were a response to ongoing assaults on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. The targeted locations included a training facility and a safe house near Albu Kamal and Mayadeen.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the airstrikes completely demolished a weapons depot near Albu Kamal, leading to a series of explosions from the ammunition igniting. Near Mayadeen, a rocket launch platform was the target of these strikes.

The U.S. asserts that these strikes are a preventative measure against further attacks on its forces in Iraq and Syria, where more than 45 incidents since October 17 have resulted in injuries to numerous U.S. personnel.

The monitoring group also noted that pro-Iran fighters launched around 15 rockets at a base used by the U.S.-led coalition combating the Islamic State group in Syria’s Conoco gas field early Monday. Additionally, an Iraqi group claimed responsibility for an overnight attack on the Green Village base in Syria’s Al-Omar oil field, both located in Deir Ezzor province.

These increased attacks on U.S. troops have been linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated following a surprising cross-border attack from Gaza by the Palestinian militant group on October 7.