US Airstrike in Eastern Syria Targets Iranian-Affiliated Groups After Attack on Coalition Base

The Pentagon has confirmed that a US contractor was killed and five US service members and one US contractor were wounded in an attack on a coalition base in northeast Syria on Thursday. The attack, which occurred just before 2 pm local time, is believed to have been carried out by a suicide drone of Iranian origin.

In response, President Joe Biden authorized a precision airstrike against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The strike was intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimize casualties, according to the Pentagon statement.

The US Central Command forces conducted the airstrike in eastern Syria, targeting facilities used by the IRGC. The intelligence community believes the drone to have been of Iranian origin, according to the statement.

The attack is the latest in a series of escalations between the US and Iran in the region. In recent months, the US has increased its military presence in the region and has imposed sanctions on Iran in an effort to contain its nuclear ambitions.

The US has not yet commented on the attack, but the Pentagon has said that it is “closely monitoring the situation and will continue to take appropriate action to protect US personnel and interests in the region.”