US strikes Iran-backed militias in Syria for third day
The White House sought to halt attacks on American troops in Syria by authorizing airstrikes on a depot used by the IRGC. Local militias have responded by firing more rockets.
American military aircraft struck Iran-backed militia targets in eastern Syria for the third day in a row on Thursday as commanders sought to suppress a new flurry of attacks on US bases in the country.
The US deployed Apache helicopters, AC-130 gunships and M777 artillery in response to rocket fire that lightly injured three US soldiers at the Conoco base in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province around 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday. At least two additional rockets later landed outside the United States' Green Village base at al-Omar oilfield.
The military’s response has killed four “enemy fighters” and destroyed seven rocket launchers, US Central Command said today. The command called the retaliation “proportional and deliberate” in a statement last night.
“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran, but we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect and defend our people,” the statement read.
