US conducts airstrikes in eastern Syria after deadly drone attack

(Patria) - The US conducted airstrikes on Iran-linked groups in eastern Syria after a drone attack killed an American contractor, the US defense chief said, BBC reports.

Fourteen pro-Iranian fighters were killed, according to a monitoring group. US officials said the airstrikes took place on Thursday evening, several hours after the drone attack, which US intelligence said was of "Iranian origin".

The airstrikes on Thursday evening were carried out on the orders of President Biden "in response to... the (drone) attack, as well as a series of recent attacks on coalition forces in Syria by groups linked to the IRGC," said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Biden, who is on a working visit to Canada, said he was informed of the death of the American contractor early Thursday evening while traveling to Ottawa. Addressing reporters on Friday, Biden expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasized that the US does not seek conflict with Iran. However, he added: "Be prepared to act strongly to protect our people."

The conflict continued to escalate on Friday morning when rockets targeted another US base, Green Village, in northeastern Syria, US officials said.

The US Department of Defense announced that a contractor was killed and five US personnel and other contractors were injured when a drone hit a maintenance facility at a coalition base near Hasakah.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, said that six pro-Iranian fighters were killed in the US strikes in the city of Deir al-Zour, six in al-Bukamal, and two in the al-Mayadeen desert. Iran has not commented on the allegations.

Around 900 US soldiers operate from bases in southern and eastern Syria, without the permission of the Syrian government, as part of the US-led global coalition against ISIL.

The IRGC has built a significant presence in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011, sending hundreds of soldiers to advise President Bashar al-Assad's forces and to train and arm thousands of militia members.