US forces in Syria and Iraq on ‘high alert’ for attacks by Iran-backed groups
Centcom general says Washington is ready to 'mitigate threats across the region'
American troops stationed in Iraq and Syria are on “high alert” for attacks by Iran-backed groups, a senior US commander said on Thursday.
US President Joe Biden authorised military strikes on Tuesday against bases the Defence Department said were being used by Iran-aligned groups to attack the US-led coalition in Syria.
The strikes in oil-rich Deir Ezzor province “targeted infrastructure facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps“.
It was conducted in response to an attack on August 15 on a compound used by coalition and US-backed Syrian opposition fighters.
A Central Command (Centcom) General, Michael Eric Corella told Sky News Arabia that US forces in Iraq and Syria are “closely monitoring” the situation.
“We have the full range of capabilities to mitigate threats across the region, and have full confidence in protecting our forces and coalition partners from attacks,” he said.
His comments came after three members of US military were injured on Wednesday in rocket attacks on two sites in Syria where American troops were housed, Centcom said.
It said rockets landed on its Conoco and Green Village sites in north-east Syria, which led to a US response by attack helicopters.
The American attack destroyed three cars and equipment that were used to launch some of the missiles, Centcom said.
Washington suspects that up to three Iran-backed militants were killed in its response.
The National contacted Centcom for comment about the matter.
Gen Corella said Washington did not “seek a conflict with Iran, but we will continue to take the necessary measures to protect and defend our people”.
The exchange of strikes is latest in the escalation of events in Syria, where 900 American soldiers are currently stationed, the majority of them in the east.
US forces were posted to Syria during the former US President Barack Obama administration’s campaign against ISIS, teaming up with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
However, Iran-backed militias established a foothold in Syria while fighting in support of President Bashar Al Assad during Syria’s civil war that erupted in 2011.
On Monday, Iranian state media said a Revolutionary Guard general “on a mission in Syria as a military adviser” had been killed on Sunday.
The reports did not say how he was killed, only describing him as a “defender of the sanctuary”, a term used for those who work on behalf of Iran in Syria or Iraq.
Tehran says it has stationed its forces in Syria at the invitation of Damascus and only as advisers.
BY The National
