US strikes military bases in Syria

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin / AP photo

The US armed forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities in eastern Syria. The US military has retaliated against ongoing attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria.

The US military launched strikes in eastern Syria on November 12. This is stated in a statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the Pentagon website about additional US military strikes in Syria, Channel 24 reports.

What is known about the US strikes

In a statement, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the facilities in Syria are being used by the IRGC and Iran-affiliated groups in response to ongoing attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Austin noted that the strikes targeted targets near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin.

“U.S. President Joe Biden has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel and led today's action to send a clear message that the United States will protect itself, its personnel and its interests,” the statement said.

Consequences of the attack

US defense officials say at least six Iranian-backed fighters have been killed in US strikes in eastern Syria.

All the dead were in one of the two places affected during the strikes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the state of the war, reported eight deaths, including “at least one Syrian and Iraqi national.”

What preceded this

• On October 23, militants tried to attack an American military base in Syria with drones. The attack was carried out by militants from the Islamic Movement of Iraq.
• The attack was later confirmed by Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder. According to him, American troops managed to shoot down two enemy drones, while the US military was not injured.
• The Pentagon attacked a military facility of pro-Iranian terrorists in eastern Syria. US forces hit a militant hideout.