The United States (US) military launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in northeast Syria for a third consecutive day on Thursday. The series of US strikes follow a missile attack on a US military base in Al Tanf in Syria’s Homs governorate on August 15, following which militants and the US have launched a number of retaliatory strikes.
The US Central Command [CENTCOM] on Thursday said the military struck “Iran-affiliated militants” in Syria’s Deir Ez Zor province, killing four “enemy soldiers” and destroying seven rocket launchers. CENTCOM said the military used several Apache attack helicopters, AC-130 gunships, and M777 artillery in the attack. It added that the attacks were a response to Wednesday’s rocket attacks targeting a US military base near the Koniko oilfield in Deir Ez Zor.
*Joins
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 25, 2022
All happening while US and Iran are indirectly negotiating a return to nuclear deal of 2015, that tries to block out regional noise & clashing interests.
On Wednesday, several missiles were launched at the base in Koniko, injuring a US soldier and two other people. The US immediately responded by launching attacks that killed three militants and destroyed several vehicles and equipment used to launch rockets.
“The US does not seek conflict with Iran, but we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect and defend our people,” the statement read. “No group will strike at our troops with impunity. We will take all necessary measures to defend our people,” CENTCOM commander Erik Kurilla said.
A day earlier, CENTCOM said the US military conducted “precision airstrikes” in Deir Ez Zor against groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in response to the August 15 rocket attacks. It said the military conducted the airstrikes at President Joe Biden’s direction.
Syrian war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the US conducted 24 airstrikes that killed ten members of the Fatemiyoun brigade, an IRGC-backed mercenary unit comprised of Shia Afghan fighters.
Update
— Nafiseh Kohnavard (@nafisehkBBC) August 25, 2022
Footage shows the Aug 23 US strike on “Iran-backed groups’ positions” in Deir az-Zor, Syria pic.twitter.com/J0B2Ss5e22
On August 15, militants struck the largest US coalition base in Al Tanf using drones and launched missiles near the vicinity of the base. Washington said there were no casualties, and its military and local allies destroyed several drones.
Iran has denied any links with the militants that launched the attacks. However, Tehran has condemned US actions. Foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani called the US military’s strikes a “violation of Syria’s sovereignty, integrity, and territorial independence.” Calling the US “aggression” an “act of terror,” Kanaani demanded that the US “immediately leave Syria and stop plundering the country’s oil resources.”
The tensions follow reports that Iran and world powers are on the verge of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. In July, the European Union proposed a “final text” to restore the agreement following the failure of the year-long Vienna talks. Although Iran said the deal was acceptable, it is still undecided. Israel, however, has urged the US not to go ahead with the deal, as it could provide billions of dollars to Iran to fund proxy militias across the Middle East.
The US strikes were the third time since Biden assumed office last January that he has directly ordered the military to launch strikes against Iranian-backed militias in Syria.