US launches airstrikes on sites linked to Iran in retaliation for attacks on US troops in Syria and Iraq

In reaction to previous strikes by Iranian proxies in the Middle East, the US military targeted two locations in Eastern Syria that were connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday.

Since October 17, assaults on US forces stationed in Iraq and Syria by militias supported by Iran have resulted in one US contractor’s death and at least twenty-one US military men suffering minor injuries.

The operations against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliates have been characterized by the US Department of Defense (DoD) as “self-defence” actions taken in reaction to “a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against US personnel” throughout the Middle East. The DoD statement went on to say that although the US does not want to exacerbate the situation, it would not hold back from taking further action should the assaults persist.

Although it functions independently of the regular Iranian military, the IRGC is a military force that operates alongside it. As the Supreme Leader of Iran’s sword arm, the IRGC serves as his direct subordinate and is tasked with protecting the legacy of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which toppled the country’s liberal, pro-Western monarchy and instituted theocratic authority.

“These targeted self-defense operations are in reaction to a slew of continuous, mostly fruitless assaults by Iranian-backed militia groups that started on October 17 against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria…Although the United States does not want to engage in further conflicts, it is intolerable that these assaults against American personnel are being supported by Iran, and they must end. Iran wants to keep its involvement in these assaults on our soldiers hidden. We won’t allow them to. The Department of Defense said, “We will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people if attacks by Iran’s proxies against U.S. forces continue.”

As to the New York Times, there have been 16 strikes against US forces in Iraq and Syria so far, and the attacks are “near-daily”. Al Tanf garrison in southern Syria and Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq have been the targets of the strikes. According to the New York Times, there are around 2,500 US soldiers in Syria and 900 in Iraq, where they are mainly assisting regional partners in carrying out counterterrorism operations against the terrorist organization ISIS.

The events, according to the DoD, have nothing to do with the present confrontation between Israel and Hamas. However, the assaults on US forces started when Hezbollah, another organization funded by Iran, joined the conflict being led by Hamas, which was waging war against Israel. The Biden administration increased the US military presence in the area after the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel by sending two aircraft carriers and corresponding vessels.

“In order to prevent Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq from starting a regional conflict, the United States has sent two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean, close to Israel, and scores of extra jets to the Persian Gulf area. To safeguard American troops and installations in the area, the Pentagon has reportedly hurriedly sent more Patriot antimissile batteries and other air defenses to a number of Gulf states, according to NYT.

CNN also said that in response to Iran and its allies’ actions, some 900 more soldiers have been ordered to be stationed in the area. The United States had already placed some 2,000 soldiers on notice for deployment to the area in order to strengthen its presence, protect its interests, and thwart any further adventurism by Iran or its proxies in the wake of Hamas’ all-out onslaught against Israel.