UNITED STATES: The US has conducted airstrikes on an Iranian-operated weapons storage facility in eastern Syria. Since October, there have been over 40 attacks on US and coalition forces in Syria and Iraq, raising concerns about the potential expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict. More than 45 US soldiers have sustained injuries.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that two US F-15 aircraft carried out the strikes on Wednesday in response to recent attacks on US forces. Austin emphasized the need to halt assaults on US soldiers and warned of further measures if attacks by Iran’s proxies persist.
Nine individuals linked to Iran-supported organizations were reportedly killed in Wednesday’s attack, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The US had targeted Iranian-backed forces in the region following their attacks on US soldiers.
On October 26, US forces attacked two locations used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its supported militias. The US is deploying 900 troops to Syria and an additional 2,500 to Iraq to assist local forces in countering the resurgence of the Islamic State.
Concerns are rising about the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading in the Middle East and endangering US personnel at remote outposts.
Despite sirens at the US embassy in Baghdad, no reports of projectile strikes or injuries were received. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a recent strike using drones on the al-Harir airbase.
The Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, also downed a US MQ-9 drone near Yemen. Iraqi government security officers and US embassy spokespersons have not immediately responded to inquiries.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, the US has deployed fighter planes, warships, and thousands of troops to deter Iran and its affiliated organizations.
Military patrols have been increased, access to base installations restricted, and intelligence gathering enhanced through drones and surveillance.
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