Washington: A US contractor was killed and five US military members and another contractor were wounded in a suspected Iranian drone strike on a coalition military base in northwestern Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon has given this information. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement issued late Thursday that US Central Command forces retaliated with “precision airstrikes” on bases in eastern Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Did it The Defense Department said the intelligence community determined that the unmanned drone was of Iranian origin.
Austin said the airstrikes were in response to “today’s attack as well as recent attacks against coalition forces by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard in Syria”. An explosion can be seen taking place. The strategically important province borders Iraq and is home to oil fields.
Significantly, Iran’s paramilitary force Revolutionary Guard is suspected of carrying out bomber drone attacks in West Asia. In recent months, Russia has started using Iranian drones in its attacks on several places as part of its war on Ukraine. Iran has denied responsibility for these attacks. However, western countries and experts attribute these drones to Iran.
Syria’s official news agency has not yet confirmed any strikes. There has been no response from Iran on these attacks either. Qatar’s official news agency has reported a phone conversation between its foreign minister and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Qatar has been an interlocutor between Iran and the US amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear programs.
