US strikes ‘Iranian-backed militant infrastructure’ in Syria, says Pentagon

The Pentagon confirmed a US strike on “Iranian-backed militant infrastructure” in eastern Syria in response to recent attacks against American personnel in Iraq, Reuters reported.

“At President Biden’s direction, US military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria,” said spokesman John Kirby in a statement, AFP reported.

“These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq, and to ongoing threats to that personnel,” he said.

The attack destroyed “multiple facilities located at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups”, he added.

Rockets have also struck US bases in Baghdad, including the Green Zone which houses the US embassy and other diplomatic missions, BBC reported.

“The operation sends an unambiguous message,” the Pentagon statement said.

“President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq.”

Reportedly, a civilian contractor was killed in a rocket attack on US targets in Iraq earlier this month.

A US service member and five other contractors were injured when the rockets hit sites in Irbil, including a base used by the US-led coalition.