US strikes Iranian-backed militias in response to attack on US troops in Iraq and Syria

American military aircraft carried out airstrikes in eastern Syria against facilities associated with Iranian-backed groups in response to a series of rocket and drone attacks against American troops in Iraq and Syria, which left 21 service members injured.

The United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, confirmed the operation in a statement. “Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted self-defense strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups,” the text states.

Austin assured that the United States does not seek to get involved in new hostilities. However, he made it clear that the nation will not tolerate attacks and will defend itself, its personnel and its interests.

“These narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense were intended solely to protect and defend U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict,” he said.

Last week, Voz Media reported that several U.S. bases were attacked with drones and missiles and that a warship also managed to intercept three missiles launched from Yemen that appeared to be destined for Israel.

Iran’s threat to the United States

The counter-strikes came shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's speech to the United Nations in which he accused Washington of directing the war between Israel and Hamas and warned that it “will not be spared” if the “genocide” in Gaza continues.