US airstrikes hit Iran-backed militants in Syria

The U.S. military on Tuesday carried out airstrikes in Syria's Deir ez-Zor province against facilities used by Iran-backed militant groups, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. 

The “precision airstrikes” “targeted infrastructure used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” CENTCOM Communication Director Joe Buccino said.

Buccino said that the strikes were “proportionate, deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimize the risk of casualties,” without disclosing any casualty figures.

The airstrikes came after drones, suspected to be launched by Iran-backed militias, targeted a US military base in Syria on August 15. 

The statement said “these precision strikes are intended to defend and protect U.S. forces from attacks like the ones on August 15 against U.S. personnel by Iran-backed groups.”

At least five drone and rocket attacks since the start of the year targeted bases housing US troops in Syria, Rudaw reported.

Iranian-backed militias are heavily concentrated west of the Euphrates in oil rich Deir ez-Zor province, where they get supplies from Iraq through the al-Bukamal border crossing, Reuters reported.