US targets Iran-backed militia in Syria for second day in a row

The United States launched airstrikes against Iranian proxy forces in Syria early Tuesday local time, marking the second consecutive day of strikes following attacks on US forces.

The US military announced, “Today, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against an Iranian-backed militia group’s weapons storage and logistics headquarters facility. These strikes were in response to a rocket attack on U.S. personnel at Patrol Base Shaddadi.”

Although the US has occasionally targeted Iranian-backed militia units in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, strikes on two consecutive days has been less common.

Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen also announced on Sunday that the US and Britain launched raids on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, the Amran governorate and other areas. Houthis have been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea region for the past one year, crippling free navigation. They have also occasionally fired on US and allied naval forces.

The US airstrikes follow the Pentagon’s recent deployment of additional naval and air assets to the Middle East, including B-52 heavy bombers stationed in the Persian Gulf. This escalation aligns with rising military tensions between Iran and Israel shortly before the US presidential election and the upcoming “lame-duck” period for the Biden administration.

CENTCOM said in its statement that the latest air attack in Syria “will degrade the Iranian backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations.”

The statement also quoted CENTCOM commander, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla saying, “We have made it clear that attacks on U.S. personnel, partner forces and facilities will not be tolerated and that we retain the right to defend ourselves. U.S. Central Command, alongside our regional partners, will aggressively pursue any threat to US forces, allies, partners, and security in the region.”