close
close

US strikes Iran-backed terrorist groups in Syria – CENTCOM

The United States carried out nine airstrikes on Iranian-backed targets in Syria on Monday, CENTCOM announced.

The attacks were in response to attacks on U.S. personnel in the past 24 hours, CENTCOM reported. The attacks are said to have reduced the terrorist group's ability to launch further attacks.

“Our message is clear. Attacks against the United States and coalition partners in the region will not be tolerated,” said CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla. “We will continue to take all necessary steps to protect our personnel and coalition partners and respond to reckless attacks.”

CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla met with IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi in ​​Israel, the IDF said June 11, 2024. (Source: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S Unit)

Regional escalation

The attacks come after significant unrest in the Middle East. On October 7, the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas invaded southern Israel and murdered around 1,200 people – with another 250 taken hostage. The resulting war led to other Iranian-backed terrorist groups targeting the Jewish state.

In recent months, Iran has launched direct attacks on Israel, prompting Israel to launch a counterattack on Iranian military sites.

Since October 7, U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq have faced increasing attacks from Iranian-backed groups.

The U.S. has deployed 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 more in neighboring Iraq to advise and support local forces trying to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State, which captured swathes of both countries in 2014 but was later defeated.

REUTERS contributed to this report.



You may also like...