US bombs Syrian targets after deadly drone attack
According to the US defence chief, the US carried out air strikes against Iran-affiliated groups in eastern Syria following a drone attack that killed a US contractor.
The air strikes resulted in the deaths of eight pro-Iran fighters, as reported by a monitoring group. US intelligence believed that the drone attack was “of Iranian origin”.
The US bases in north-east Syria had previously come under attack, resulting in similar air strikes by the US.
The air strikes on Thursday night were authorised by President Biden, in response to the drone attack and recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups linked to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).
The US defence department said that the contractor was killed, and five US service personnel and another contractor were injured in the drone attack earlier that day.
Around 900 US troops are operating out of bases in southern and eastern Syria without the Syrian government’s permission as part of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS).
The IRGC has a significant presence in Syria, with hundreds of troops sent to support President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and to train and arm thousands of militiamen.
Iran has not issued any statement regarding the air strikes.