US strikes Iranian linked facility in Syria

The US carried out a strike on an Iran-linked site in eastern Syria on Wednesday in response to attacks against American personnel, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

”US military forces conducted a self-defense strike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. This strike was conducted by two US F-15s against a weapons storage facility," Austin said in a statement.

"This precision self-defense strike is a response to a series of attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates," Austin said, adding that the United States "is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities."

The strike marked the second time in roughly two weeks that the US has targeted a location in Syria it said was linked to Iran.

The US says its forces have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces since the start of October and that 45 troops have suffered traumatic brain injuries or minor wounds.

Washington wants to deter Iran and its proxies from entering the Israel-Palestine war in full force and has dispatched additional troops, air defense systems and naval carriers to the region.