In a series of airstrikes today, the United States and Israel jointly targeted facilities in eastern Syria that the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) revealed were being used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated groups. This marks the second such operation in a matter of weeks, coinciding with Israeli airstrikes on Syrian air defense sites in the southern province of Sweida.
According to Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “Nine individuals working with pro-Iranian groups were killed in U.S. airstrikes on sites used by these groups, including military positions and weapons depots in the city of Deir ez-Zor.”
In a statement, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the airstrikes were conducted by two F-15 fighter jets in response to recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Austin explained, “U.S. military forces conducted a self-defense strike against a facility in eastern Syria used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its affiliated groups. This strike was carried out by two U.S. F-15 aircraft against a weapons storage facility.”
The statement also emphasized President Joe Biden’s commitment to the safety of U.S. personnel and interests, stating that the U.S. will defend itself and its soldiers when necessary.
Additionally, the U.S. Central Command announced that it carried out an airstrike on a facility in Syria used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its affiliated groups. They stated via the X platform (formerly Twitter) that the strikes were in response to a series of attacks on Americans in Iraq and Syria, pledging to take all necessary measures to defend their people against those responsible for the attacks.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command also announced that a strategic bomber accompanied by two F-16 aircraft conducted a mission within its area of responsibility for the second time in three days. Iraqi armed factions had previously claimed responsibility for targeting the U.S. base in Shaddadi, near the Syrian city of Hasakah, with drones. These factions, affiliated with the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” claimed a direct hit on the base.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that unknown aircraft targeted military bases and weapon depots in the city of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria. Director Rami Abdulrahman clarified, “Three non-Syrian fighters loyal to Iran were killed in an Israeli strike on farms and other locations affiliated with Hezbollah near Al-Qarah and Sayyida Zainab.” He also noted that Al-Qarah houses a military airport located more than 10 kilometers from Damascus International Airport. Additionally, Israel reportedly targeted Syrian air defense sites in Sweida, in the south of the country.
Official Syrian media outlets reported that Israeli airstrikes struck military sites in southern Syria, resulting in material damage. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted a military source who stated, “Around 22:50 today, the Israeli enemy carried out an aerial aggression from the direction of Baalbek in Lebanon, targeting some military points in the southern region, resulting in some material losses.”