November 13, 2023
The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in regard to U.S. military strikes against a training facility and safe house in Syria on Sunday.
What To Know: The Pentagon announced a new round of airstrikes on Iranian facilities in Syria on Sunday, targeting “a training facility and a safe house.”
Austin said these facilities are linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a senior U.S. defense official said, “…the training facility in Bukamal also was used to store weapons.”
From The Washington Post: “The operation marked a significant escalation by the Biden administration, which has sought to deter the sharp rise in violence against American forces in the Middle East without provoking a broader regional conflict as tensions flare over the war in Gaza.”
U.S. officials have said around 46 attacks on U.S. troops have occurred since mid October in the region, injuring more than 50 service members. This is the third strike by the U.S. since October 26th.
Read More:
U.S. airstrikes kill Iranian proxies in Syria, officials say (The Washington Post)
US carries out air strikes in Syria against Iran-linked facilities (Reuters)
by Sarah Pinkerton,
