US Military Strikes Target Iranian-Backed Groups in Syria

Photo : Reuters

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on targets in Syria, following attacks on U.S. forces by groups aligned with Iran. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), nine targets at two different locations in eastern Syria were struck in retaliation for the assaults on U.S. personnel. These recent strikes were designed to send a "clear" message to Iranian-backed groups operating in Syria, according to CENTCOM’s commander, General Michael Erik Kurilla. He emphasized that attacks on U.S. and coalition forces would not be tolerated, describing the recent attacks as "reckless."

CENTCOM stated that the strikes would "degrade" the ability of these groups to plan and execute further attacks. The U.S. has approximately 900 troops deployed in eastern Syria, and around 2,500 soldiers in Iraq, primarily tasked with training and assisting local forces to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, which once controlled significant portions of Syria and Iraq.

While no U.S. casualties were reported from the attacks that took place in the last 24 hours, CENTCOM did not specify which armed groups were involved or whether there were casualties on the Syrian side. However, a report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) claimed that four members of Iranian-backed forces were killed and ten others injured in an airstrike on a headquarters in Syria's Deir Az Zor region.

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Meanwhile, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted a convoy near the Syrian-Lebanese border, resulting in the closure of a major highway connecting Damascus to Aleppo. The area was already under strain as it had been used as a refuge for people fleeing Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

The U.S. airstrikes followed similar actions by Israel in Syria, including an attack on a residential building in the suburb of Sayyida Zeinab near Damascus. The Israeli attack killed seven civilians and wounded twenty others. While Israel frequently conducts airstrikes in Syria, it rarely acknowledges these actions, often stating that its goal is to target Iranian-backed military groups that pose a threat to its security.

These recent events highlight the ongoing tension in the region, with multiple international forces actively involved in strikes across Syria, targeting Iranian-supported entities. The complex nature of the regional conflict, involving both direct and proxy confrontations, continues to contribute to instability in Syria and its neighboring countries.