US strikes Syria bases used by Iran-linked groups - BBC.com

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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin dressed in a suit looking away during a press conference in Kenya in September

By James Gregory

BBC News

The US has carried out air strikes against two weapons and ammunition storage facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the strikes were in response to recent attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups.

The US strikes were "separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas," he said in a statement.

Iran did not immediately comment.

The strikes took place on Friday at around 04:30 local time (01:30 GMT) near Abu Kamal, a town on the border with Iraq.

It is not yet known if there were any casualties from the attacks.

"These precision self-defence strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17," Mr Austin said in a statement.

US and coalition troops have been attacked at least 12 times in Iraq and four times in Syria since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began.

A total of 21 US military personnel have suffered minor injuries, according to the Pentagon.

American officials attribute the attacks to Iranian proxy groups operating in the region. Iran backs both Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon, with arms as well as money.

"These Iranian-backed attacks against US forces are unacceptable and must stop," Mr Austin said.

"If attacks by Iran's proxies against US forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people."

The White House said on Thursday that President Joe Biden had warned Iran against targeting US personnel in the Middle East via a rare message to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni.

At a UN General Assembly meeting in New York also on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned that Washington would not be spared from the fire engulfing the region if the violence in Gaza continues.

The US has sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region in recent weeks. On Thursday, US official said some 900 US troops were also being moved to the region.

US bases in the Middle East have come under attack before, with the US responding with retaliatory strikes.

In March, the US carried out multiple air strikes in eastern Syria against Iran-linked groups after a drone attack killed a US contractor.