On Wednesday, the United States launched airstrikes targeting a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria that the Pentagon stated is being used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its affiliated groups. This marks the second set of strikes carried out by the U.S. in a matter of weeks.
With rising tensions amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement (Hamas), U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria have faced attacks at least 40 times by Iran-backed factions since the beginning of October. As a result, 45 American soldiers have sustained traumatic brain injuries or minor wounds.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated in a statement that the strikes were carried out by two F-15 fighter jets and were a response to recent attacks on U.S. forces. Austin emphasized that attacks on U.S. troops must stop, adding, "If attacks by Iranian proxies against U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our troops."
A senior U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that the military had monitored the site in Deir ez-Zor province for some time and is confident that there were no civilian casualties. The official mentioned that the military tracked some individuals near the facility during the night, but they do not believe they were civilians, and an analysis is ongoing to determine if anyone was killed.
The U.S. has periodically carried out retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed forces in the region following attacks on American troops. On October 26, U.S. forces attacked two facilities used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its supported groups.
The United States currently has 900 soldiers in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq on a mission to advise and assist local forces attempting to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, which had taken control of large areas of both countries in 2014 but was subsequently defeated. Concerns are growing over the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East and the transformation of U.S. forces stationed at scattered bases into targets.
