US fires airstrikes at 2 facilities with ties to Iran, its proxy groups

The United States military fired another round of airstrikes on two facilities with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxy groups in Eastern Syria Sunday, officials said.

The latest series of airstrikes ordered by President Biden came in response to sustained attacks against US soldiers on bases in Iraq and Syria, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

“The President has no higher priority than the safety of US personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said.

The strikes targeted a training facility near Abu Kamal and a safe house near Mayadin.

One site included weapons storage, a US official told the Associated Press.

Militant groups, many backed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, have targeted almost 50 bases housing US personnel in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17.

So far, 56 US personnel have been injured –- a combination of traumatic brain injury and other minor wounds – in the attacks, but all have returned to duty.

Sunday’s airstrikes are the third time in two weeks the US has retaliated against militants in Middle Eastern countries for the attacks on bases.

Violence in the region has ramped up since the Oct. 7 attack carried out by Hamas against Israel. In response, the Jewish state has launched a retaliatory military campaign against the terror group in Gaza.  

With Post wires