The US Department of Defense stated on Monday (November 11) in response to multiple attacks on American personnel in Syria over the past 24 hours, the US military initiated a strong response on Monday, targeting two locations in Syria and hitting nine targets associated with Iran.
The Department of Defense emphasized in a statement that the US military occasionally responds forcefully to Iranian-affiliated organizations and targets, with strikes covering both Iraq and Syria. For example, in February of this year, the US military launched airstrikes on over 85 Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and related militia group targets in response to attacks on US military forces by these groups.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on social media, “These attacks will weaken armed groups supported by Iran and reduce their ability to launch future attacks on US and coalition forces.”
US Central Command did not disclose which groups were targeted in the attacks, nor did they provide information on casualties on the other side.
Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, pro-Iranian groups have repeatedly targeted US forces in Iraq and Syria, and have faced multiple retaliatory strikes from the US military.
Following the Gaza conflict, the US has deployed warships and fighter jets to the region in an attempt to deter Iran and its supported organizations. The US military has also shot down missiles launched by Iran towards Israel earlier this year.
There are 900 US soldiers stationed in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq. The primary mission of these forces is to support local troops and prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization. ISIS had occupied large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014 but was swiftly defeated due to US and coalition intervention.
The remnants of ISIS still exist in the form of small-scale guerrilla warfare and terrorist attacks.