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The US military announced on Monday that it conducted air strikes on nine targets associated with Iranian-affiliated groups in Syria that periodically target US forces.
According to the statement, the strikes targeted two specific locations in Syria and were a response to multiple attacks on US personnel within the previous 24 hours.
The US has periodically launched strikes against Iranian-linked targets in Iraq and Syria, after they launch arracks against US targets in Syria or Iraq. Earlier this year in February, the US carried out airstrikes on more than 85 sites connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and its allied militias, following a fatal attack on US forces. After the US strike, attacks by Iran-backed forces that had surged to 200 incidents since October 2023, stopped for a long period.
“These strikes will reduce the ability of Iranian-backed groups to plan and carry out future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces,” the US military stated regarding the recent action.
Currently, the US has approximately 900 troops stationed in Syria and an additional 2,500 in Iraq, primarily tasked with advising and supporting local forces to prevent a resurgence of ISIS, which once held large territories across both countries before being defeated.
Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, the US has deployed warships and fighter jets to the region as a deterrent to Iran and its affiliated groups. Additionally, US forces have assisted in intercepting projectiles launched by Iran toward Israel this year. Tehran has also threatened to launch a third ballistic missile attack against Israel in retaliation for an Israeli air strike last month targeting military sites within Iran.
