The United States Military confirmed on Thursday evening that it had conducted an airstrike against two facilities in eastern Syria known to be operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The strike came in response to a series of attacks against American bases and personnel in Syria and Iraq by militant groups linked to Iran, threatening an escalation of regional hostilities.
“At President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted self-defense strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups,” said Defense Secretary Llyod Austin in a Thursday night press statement. “These precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17.”
As Valuetainment reported at the time, the attacks against American facilities in the Middle East included drone and missile strikes targeting the Ain al-Asad airbase in eastern Iraq, which houses US and international military forces. Additional strikes targeted locations in Syria and northern Iraq. US Naval forces also intercepted at least three missiles and several drones launched toward Israel by Houthi militants in Yemen.
Military sources reported that the strikes injured 21 US servicemen, 19 of them sustaining traumatic brain injuries. All have since returned to active duty. Additionally, one citizen contractor died of a heart attack while sheltering in place during an attack.
19 total attacks have been reported since the initial strike.
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In retaliation, two American F-16 fighter jets were dispatched to destroy a pair of facilities—a weapons depot and an ammunition storage site—near Abu Kamal, Syria. Both locations, operated within Syria by Iran’s IRGC, have been used to supply militant groups throughout the region. Military officials did not reveal whether any Iranian military personnel were present at the time of the strike.
“Iran wants to hide its hand and deny its role in these attacks against our forces. We will not let them,” Austin’s statement continued. “If attacks by Iran’s proxies against U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people.”
However, the Department of Defense made clear that the strikes were purely retaliatory in nature and did not constitute an escalation of the American stance on the Israel-Hamas war, which has thus far been one of containment.
The United States has deployed two aircraft carrier groups and other military resources to the region to prevent the bloody conflict between the Israel Defense Force and the Gaza-based forces of Hamas from spilling over into neighboring countries. Austin reiterated that “all state and non-state entities” are urged “not to take action that would escalate into a broader regional conflict.”
The Biden administration has not formally accused the Iranians of involvement in the October 7 Hamas invasion of Israel despite reports indicating otherwise.
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