US air forces target Iranian-backed militias in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, the United States (US) announced it carried out precision airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias in Syria.
In a statement, the US Central Command announced that the US military forces conducted precision airstrikes in Deir ez-Zor in east Syria against Iranian-backed militias.
The strikes were carried out by F-15 and F-16 fighters. The targets were nine bunkers used for storage, a US military official said. The bunkers were described as ammunition depots and logistics supply facilities.
The statement pointed out that forces affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were the targets.
Iranian-backed militias are active in eastern Syria, extensively in the Deir ez-Zor area of Abu Kamal region on the border between Syria and Iraq.
The statement cited attacks carried out against US personnel by Iranian-backed militias on August 15.
On August 15, the al-Tanf base came under drone attacks causing fire near the Green Village in eastern Syria. No casualties were reported then. A military official said the US was certain that Iranian-backed militias were behind the attack.
The “necessary” airstrikes were “proportionate and deliberate” in order to defend and protect the US forces, according to the statement.
The decision to conduct the airstrikes came from President Joe Biden, within the necessary measures to protect and defend American people.
“The president gave the direction for these strikes,” said Col. Joe Buccino, the communication director for Central Command in the statement.
“US forces remain in Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS,” the statement concluded.