WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden warned Iran on Friday that the United States would “act decisively” to protect Americans after U.S. forces in Syria launched airstrikes against Iranian-backed formations in retaliation. an attack on US military personnel.
Officials later said another US soldier was injured on Friday in a fresh exchange of strikes between Iran-backed militants and US units in Syria.
Washington said an Iranian-originated drone attack on Thursday resulted in the death of an American contractor. Another contractor and five US servicemen were injured.
On Friday, missile strikes were reportedly carried out by US forces in targeted areas of eastern Syria, but no casualties were reported. Pro-Iranian forces in Syria said on Friday they had “long guns” and would be able to respond to further US strikes on their positions.
A confrontation could further complicate an already strained relationship between Washington and Tehran as attempts to revive a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program stall and Russia uses Iranian drones against Ukraine.
While US troops stationed in Syria have been attacked by drones before, fatalities have been rare.
“The United States is not seeking conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act decisively to protect our people,” Biden told reporters during a visit to Canada.
Asked if Iran should pay more for its actions, Biden replied, “We won’t stop.” Meanwhile, the Pentagon said US F-15 fighter jets attacked two sites used by groups associated with the Iranian revolution on Thursday. (IRGC).
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the course of the war in Syria, reported that eight pro-Iranian fighters were killed as a result of US strikes. Reuters is unable to independently confirm these figures.
Iranian state broadcaster Press TV said no Iranians were killed and quoted local sources as saying the target of the strike was a non-Iranian military installation, but a rural development center and a grain warehouse near Iran. a military airfield.
The US strikes came in response to a drone attack on a US-led coalition base near the town of Al-Hasakah in northeastern Syria on Thursday.
Three injured American soldiers and a contractor had to be evacuated to Iraq, and two other injured soldiers were treated on the spot. On Friday, the Pentagon said the condition of the injured was stable.
