The U.S. military conducted strikes in eastern Syria, targeting two facilities used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday.
The strikes, which were carried out by a pair of F-16 aircraft and had been approved by President Joe Biden, came in response to a series of recent attacks against U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq that were carried out by Iranian proxy forces in the Middle East. One strike targeted a “weapons storage area,” and the other was “an ammunition storage area,” according to a senior military official.
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“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will not tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
Between Oct. 17 and Oct. 26, U.S. forces have been attacked 19 times at al Asad Air Base in Iraq and al Tanf garrison in Syria via a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters on Thursday.
“Let’s be clear, Iran is responsible,” a senior defense official said. “I want to emphasize that the United States does not seek conflict, nor do we desire further hostilities. However, the Iran-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must cease. We are prepared to take further measures to protect our people if necessary.”
Twenty-one U.S. service members were injured, albeit not severely, at the two air bases between Oct. 17 and Oct. 18. Everyone who was injured has since returned to duty. There were 17 troops who were injured at al Tanf, 15 of whom were diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, while four service members at Al Asad Air Base suffered a traumatic brain injury. A U.S. contractor died after suffering cardiac arrest when an early warning system detected another threat, sending people to scramble for shelter.
Biden warned Iran against getting involved in the developing Israel-Hamas conflict, which began with the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7 that left roughly 1,400 people dead, the vast majority of whom were civilians. Israeli leaders have since declared war on Hamas and have said their goal is to end the terrorist organization that has been in power in Gaza for about 15 years.
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The U.S. did not inform the Israelis of the strikes preemptively, the senior defense official said.
National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said on Thursday that “there was a direct message relayed” to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
