President Joe Biden ordered a series of precision strikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria that were carried out Tuesday, according to military officials.
The airstrikes took place in the Deir ez-Zor region of Syria and targeted infrastructure believed to have been used by organizations with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, U.S. Central Command said.
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“These precision strikes are intended to defend and protect U.S. forces from attacks like the ones on Aug. 15 against U.S. personnel by Iran-backed groups. The U.S. strikes targeted infrastructure facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Col. Joe Buccino, communications director for CENTCOM, said in a statement.
On Aug. 15, the U.S. military reported an attack on one of its outposts in Syria near its Tanf border but claimed there were no reports of casualties. Maj. Gen. John Brennan, who commands U.S. forces in Syria, said the base did not sustain significant damage from the attack. Previous attacks in that region have been linked to Iran, the Washington Post reported.
Buccino stressed the airstrikes Tuesday were not intended to escalate tensions in the region but were rather necessary to protect U.S. forces in the region. He did not elaborate on what threat the airstrikes were intended to neutralize.
“Today’s strikes were necessary to protect and defend U.S. personnel. The United States took proportionate, deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimize the risk of casualties,” Buccino said.
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“The United States does not seek conflict but will continue to take necessary measures to protect and defend our people,” Buccino continued. “The president gave the direction for these strikes pursuant to his Article II authority to protect and defend U.S. personnel by disrupting or deterring attacks by Iran-backed groups.”
