WASHINGTON: US fighter jets conducted airstrikes on Friday in eastern Syria targeting locations associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, as confirmed by the Pentagon.
This action was taken in response to a series of drone and missile attacks against U.S. bases and personnel in the region that had commenced the previous week.
The US airstrikes demonstrate the Biden administration’s commitment to maintaining a delicate equilibrium. The United States aims to deter potential aggression from Iranian-backed groups, suspected of targeting US interests, potentially influenced by Israel’s conflict with Hamas. Simultaneously, the US seeks to prevent escalation in the region and the provocation of a broader conflict.
According to a senior US military official, precision strikes were executed near Boukamal by two F-16 fighter jets. The targets included weapons and ammunition storage areas connected to the IRGC. The official noted the presence of Iranian-aligned militia and IRGC personnel at the site, with no civilians involved. However, at the moment, the US lacks information regarding casualties or the extent of the damage caused by the airstrikes. The number of munitions launched by the F-16s remains undisclosed.
A senior defense official explained that the sites were selected because they contain the same type of munitions that were used in the attacks on US bases and troops. Following the strikes, the two officials briefed reporters on the mission under the condition of anonymity, as the details had not yet been made public.
The Pentagon has reported a total of 19 attacks on US bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria since October 17, with three new incidents occurring on Thursday. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder disclosed that two of these assaults, which utilized drones to target al-Asad Airbase in Iraq and al-Tanf Garrison in Syria, resulted in injuries to 21 US personnel.
