US Launches Airstrikes On Syria Facility Used By Iranian-Backed Militias, 9 Killed: Report

The United States on Wednesday launched airstrikes on a facility used by Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria.

The US bombed a facility used by Iranian-backed facility in eastern Syria/Representational Image

Source : Getty Images

Nine people affiliated with Iran-backed groups in Syria were killed in a US airstrike on the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, a war monitor told news agency AFP. 

"Nine people working for Tehran-backed groups were killed in US strikes on sites used by pro-Iran groups," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 

The US offensive came in retaliation to what Washington said was a growing number of attacks on bases housing its troops in the region for the past several weeks, according to the Pentagon. 

Two US F-15 fighter jets were deployed for the Wednesday strike on a weapons storage facility linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to the Associated Press. 

“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. 

According to the AP report, this is the second time in less than two weeks that the US bombed facilities used by the militant groups, many operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which U.S. officials say have carried out at least 40 such attacks since October 17.

The Wednesday strike was devised to take out supplies, weapons, and ammunition in an effort to erode the abilities of the Iranian-backed militants to attack Americans based in Iraq and Syria, as per the AP report. 

The attack was also a reflection of the Biden administration's determination to maintain a delicate balance in the region. 

Washington wants to deter future as strongly as possible the aggression by Iranian-backed groups suspected of targeting the US, possibly fueled by Israel's war against Hamas, while also working to avoid further provoking a wider conflict in the region, the above-mentioned AP report added.