WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military conducted airstrikes against facilities in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said were used by Iran-backed militia groups, in response to recent attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq.
The airstrikes were announced by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who said the action was authorized by President Joe Biden.
Kirby said the U.S. attacks destroyed multiple facilities at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups, which include Kait’ib Hezbollah and Kait’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada.
"This proportionate military response was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with Coalition partners," Kirby said in a statement. "The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq.”
The U.S. was retaliating for a rocket attack earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member and other coalition troops.
