US bombs Syria, Iraq against suspected Iranian militias

The strikes targeted weapons storage and exploitation facilities in two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq, the Pentagon said.

“Following the President Biden’s instructions, US military forces carried out precision defensive airstrikes tonight against facilities used by Iranian-backed militias in the Iraqi-Syrian border region, ”Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said.

He also added that the bombings are happening following “attacks by Iranian-backed groups against US interests in Iraq”.

“As tonight’s attacks demonstrated, President (Joe) Biden has made it clear that he will act to protect US personnel,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“At least five Iranian-backed militiamen were killed and several others injured in the US airstrike,” the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The attacks came on the orders of President Biden, the second time he has ordered retaliatory raids against Iranian-backed militias since taking office five months ago.

The last time that Biden ordered limited operations in Syria was in February, in response to rocket attacks in Iraq.

US officials believe that Iran It is behind the increase in drone attacks and periodic rocket attacks against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq, where the military has helped Baghdad to fight the remnants of the Islamic State.