US respond to Iranian attacks in eastern Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that US troops in northeastern Syria launched rocket attacks at posts of Iranian-backed militants as a response on previous rocket strikes took place against them.
The CENTCOM reported that the response – using helicopters – resulted in destroying three vehicles and military equipment used to launch the rockets.
On the same day, Iranian-backed militias targeted in the evening a base of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in al-Omar Oil Field, east of Deir ez-Zor, with several rockets, prompting the latter to respond by shelling the sites whence the rockets were launched.
“Initial assessments indicate that two or three suspected Iran-backed militants conducting one of the attacks were killed during the U.S. response,” according to the CENTCOM.
Three US service members were slightly injured, according to the report.
The report said, quoting the commander of the CENTCOM, Michael “Erik” Kurilla, as saying, “We have a total spectrum of capability to mitigate threats across the region, and we have every confidence in our ability to protect our troops and Coalition partners from attacks.”
“The response was proportional and deliberate. The United States does not seek conflict with Iran, but we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect and defend our people,” CENTCOM added.
In the same context, Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy said that the US military airstrikes in eastern Syria were a message to Iran.
“The United States will not hesitate to defend itself against Iranian and Iran-backed aggression when it occurs,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
However, Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nasser Kanaani denied the charges against his country.
Iranian-backed militias and the government forces control large areas of the Syrian Desert and the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.