Iranian military forces have launched a counterstrike at a U.S. base in Syria after the U.S. retaliated against the Islamic nation for killing an overseas American contractor in a previous attack.
Seven missiles were fired at the American base near the Syrian city of Hasaka Friday morning after President Joe Biden authorized a retaliatory air strike in response to an attack by an Iranian drone that killed the contractor and wounded five U.S. soldiers, reported Fox News.
Initial assessments of the seven blasts confirmed no casualties and no damage to the base, according to U.S. defense officials.
In a statement on the deadly attack on U.S. forces, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said intelligence reports show the drone originated from Iran. He added that the U.S. response was a “proportionate and deliberate action” intended to protect U.S. personnel and assets.
“At the direction of President Biden, I authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC),” said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. “The airstrikes were conducted in response to today’s attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC.”
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In addition to the death of the American contractor, two U.S. soldiers were treated on site and another three were medically evacuated to a facility in Iraq. The Washington Post reported all appear to be in stable condition.
Speaking on the seven missiles fired by Iran, White House defense spokesman John Kirby told MSNBC it is common for Iran and its proxy forces to “answer right back” with “ineffective rocket fire.” Kirby added on CNN that the U.S. is not seeking military conflict with Iran, but that Tehran’s leaders should not be aiding and abetting plans by ISIS or paramilitary forces in the region to inflict damage and casualties at U.S. sites in the Middle East.
