US airstrikes hit Iran-backed groups in Syria

Agencies |Ankara                                                                       

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The US military announced early yesterday that it carried out airstrikes against Iran-affiliated groups in eastern Syria.

“At President (Joe) Biden’s direction, US military forces conducted precision airstrikes in Deir ez-Zor, Syria today. These precision strikes are intended to defend and protect US forces from attacks like the ones on August 15 against US personnel by Iran-backed groups,” a statement by US Central Command said.

“The US strikes targeted infrastructure facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” it added.

US action against Iran comes at a time when a draft agreement to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran has been proposed by the European Union. The statement did not mention whether there were any casualties.

A senior administration official said that Biden asked for response options early last week, and the issue was discussed during a national security meeting in the Oval Office when the President was in Washington to sign the Inflation Reduction Act on August 16.

On Monday, Biden was briefed on the options by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, and he ordered the strike after that briefing, the official said.