The U.S. military conducted strikes against two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed groups in retaliation for recent attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that while the United States does not seek conflict, the Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop.
According to U.S. officials, the strikes were carried out by a pair of F-16s against a weapons storage area and an ammunition storage area near Abu Kamal in Syria.
Iranian-backed groups have targeted U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria at least 16 times since Oct. 17 using drones and rockets. These attacks have resulted in 19 diagnosed cases of traumatic brain injuries and minor injuries for two others, all of whom have returned to duty. A U.S. contractor also died of cardiac arrest in a false alarm situation at Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq. The increase in attacks has raised concerns about a broader conflict in the Middle East amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
President Biden has warned that the U.S. will respond if the attacks continue, emphasizing that it has nothing to do with Israel.
