The third time in recent weeks: US military strikes targets affiliated with Iran in Syria

The US military on Sunday night struck targets affiliated with Iran in eastern Syria, the Pentagon confirmed.

A senior US official had told Fox News earlier that the US Air Force carried out two new air strikes against Iranian proxy targets in eastern Syria.

“US military forces conducted precision strikes today on facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-affiliated groups in response to continued attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria. The strikes were conducted against a training facility and a safe house near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin, respectively,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement.

“The President has no higher priority than the safety of US personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” added Austin.

This marks the third time in recent weeks that the US has targeted Iran-affiliated groups in Syria.

In late October, President Joe Biden ordered strikes on two facilities in Syria used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and groups supported by Tehran.

Late last week, the US military again conducted an air strike on a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria used by the IRGC and affiliated groups.

American troops stationed in the Middle East have been attacked by suicide drones and rockets, including 13 times in one week in one week.

Biden has several times warned Iran not take advantage of the fighting between Israel and Hamas to attack US troops in the region.