ERBIL, Iraq – An AH-64E Apache helicopter from the 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Saber, hovers prior to taking off to conduct a mission, July 11,2017, Erbil, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Stephen James)
On August 25, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces had carried out a new wave of strikes on Iranian-backed forces in Syria’s Deir Ezzor.
The strikes were a response two indirect fire attacks that targeted the US-led coalition’s Conoco gas plant base in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside as well as the Green Village base in al-Omar oil fields in the southeastern countryside of the governorate late on August 24. Three US service members were lightly wounded as a result of the attacks.
Initially, CENTCOM responded to the two attacks by attacking vehicles and weapons of Iranian-backed forces in the southern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
In a statement, the command said AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, AC-130 gunships, and M777 artillery carried out several strikes on Iranian-backed forces in Deir Ezzor over the past 24 hours. The last wave of strikes was reportedly on August 25 afternoon.
The command claimed that four Iranian-backed fighters were killed, and seven rocket launchers were destroyed as a result of the strikes.
“We will respond appropriately and proportionally to attacks on our service members,” said Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM. “No group will strike at our troops with impunity. We will take all necessary measures to defend our people.”
The attacks on the Conoco gas plant and the Green Village were a response to the August 23 US strikes, which targeted positions of Iranian-backed forces in the town of Ayyash in the northern Deir Ezzor countryside.
The strikes themselves were a response to the August 15 attacks on the US-led coalition’s Green Village base and al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria.
The US has clearly failed to deter or intimidate Iranian-backed forces in Syria, who may respond to its latest strikes with a new wave of attacks. These forces have been reportedly preparing for such a confrontation for a while.
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