The U.S. military executed airstrikes on two locations in eastern Syria, targeting a training site and a weapons facility affiliated with Iranian-backed groups, according to reports from the Pentagon and U.S. officials. This marks the third instance in just over two weeks that the U.S. has taken action against militants responsible for an increasing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement, specified that the strikes were aimed at sites near Abukama and Mayadin, used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran-backed militias. Austin emphasized that the safety of U.S. personnel is the President's highest priority, and the airstrikes were carried out to underscore the commitment of the United States to defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.
An unnamed U.S. official disclosed that one of the targeted sites included a weapons storage facility. The militant groups, operating under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella, have conducted nearly 50 attacks since October 17 on bases housing U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria.
The series of attacks began on the day a powerful explosion rocked a Gaza hospital, leading to protests in multiple Muslim nations. The Israeli military's ongoing attacks on Gaza, in response to the October 7 Hamas rampage in southern Israel, have resulted in vows of retaliation against the U.S. for supporting Israel in the conflict.
According to the Pentagon, approximately 56 U.S. personnel have been injured in the attacks in Syria and Iraq, with all having returned to duty. The injuries include traumatic brain injury and other minor wounds.
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