In continuation of what can be described as a "controlled war" or calculated skirmishes between Iranian-backed militias in both Syria and Iraq and American forces, sites of these factions were targeted today, Thursday, in Deir Ezzor, Syria. Several fatalities and injuries have been reported following attacks by unidentified drones on military locations belonging to Iranian-affiliated groups in the western Deir Ezzor countryside, particularly in the Tabni area and the Badiyah of Sarsak, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The observatory also reported that explosions were heard east of the Euphrates near a coalition base at the Koniko gas field just before the airstrike.
The coalition led by Washington announced yesterday, Wednesday, that a military base housing its forces in northeastern Syria was targeted by eight rockets, accusing Iranian-affiliated groups of being behind the missile fire. The statement clarified that "its forces were targeted with eight rockets launched at a base known as 'Green Village,' where coalition advisors are present in areas controlled by Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria." However, it confirmed that the attack did not result in any casualties, though it noted that several projectiles landed inside the base, causing minor damage. At that time, it also mentioned that it, along with the Syrian Democratic Forces, returned fire with six artillery shells towards the source of the fire in the vicinity of the Mayadeen area in Deir Ezzor province (eastern Syria).
This attack followed a previous confirmation of thwarting another attack on the same base. These attacks, which followed missile strikes on American bases in Iraq over the previous two days, coincided with Iran and its allies in the region commemorating the second anniversary of the assassination of Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and Deputy Chairman of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a U.S. strike near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020. The U.S. administration previously announced that it was monitoring the movements of these militias, particularly as the second anniversary of Soleimani's assassination approached, an event for which Tehran has repeatedly vowed to seek revenge. However, it has only responded with some missile attacks on Ain al-Assad base in Iraq and other American bases in Iraq and Syria, without recording any significant results.
