[MIDDLE EAST] According to a statement from the US military, the strikes were carried out on two targets in Syria in response to repeated attacks on US soldiers in Syria in the previous day.
The strikes come amid escalating tensions in the region, with the US seeking to maintain its strategic presence while countering Iranian influence. General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), emphasized the importance of these operations in protecting American and coalition forces. "These precision strikes send a clear message to Iranian-backed groups operating in Syria," Kurilla stated. "We will not tolerate aggressive actions against our personnel or our partners in the region."
The United States has periodically launched attacks on Iranian sites in Iraq and Syria. In response to a fatal attack on US forces, the US conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria targeting more than 85 sites associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and militias it supports.
The recent strikes have raised concerns among international observers about the potential for further escalation in the region. Dr. Sarah Hoffman, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution, commented on the situation: "While these strikes demonstrate US resolve to protect its forces, they also risk further entrenching the cycle of retaliation that has characterized US-Iran relations in recent years. The international community will be watching closely to see how this impacts regional stability."
"These strikes will degrade the Iranian-backed groups' ability to plan and launch future attacks on US and coalition forces," the US military stated following the latest strikes.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that the strikes resulted in casualties among Iranian-backed militias. According to their sources, at least four fighters were killed and several others wounded in the attacks. However, these figures have not been independently verified, and the US military has not released any information regarding potential casualties.
The United States maintains 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 more in neighboring Iraq, advising and assisting local forces in their efforts to avoid a recurrence of Islamic State, which captured significant sections of both countries in 2014 before being crushed.
The ongoing US military presence in Syria has been a point of contention, with the Syrian government and its allies, including Russia and Iran, consistently calling for the withdrawal of American forces. The Syrian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denounced US operations in the country as a violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law. Despite these objections, the US maintains that its presence is crucial for regional stability and counterterrorism efforts.
Since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, the US has committed warships and fighter planes to the region in an effort to discourage Iran and Iran-backed forces. This year, US soldiers also assisted in the destruction of Iranian rockets aimed at Israel.
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