U.S. Conducts Self-Defense Strike Against Iranian-Linked Weapons Storage Facility in Syria

The United States has conducted a self-defense strike against a weapons storage facility in Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This is the second set of strikes conducted by the U.S. in response to attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the strikes were conducted at the direction of President Biden. The strike in eastern Syria was carried out to protect U.S. personnel and facilities.

The first set of strikes was conducted on October 26 and targeted a weapons storage area and an ammunition storage area linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The second set of strikes was conducted within a month in retaliation for continuing to attack U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.

Austin said in the statement that the U.S. is “fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities.” He added that the strikes were a “precision self-defense strike” and that the U.S. will continue to respond to any attacks on its personnel.

The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes in Syria since 2014 in an effort to combat the Islamic State group. This latest set of strikes is the first time the U.S. has targeted Iran-linked facilities in Syria. The U.S. has been increasingly concerned about Iran’s presence in the region and its support for militant groups.