OTTAWA: The death toll from reciprocal US strikes on groups in Syria after a deadly drone attack has increased to 19, a war monitor stated on Saturday. US President Joe Biden said that Washington would replay “forcefully” to protect and secure its personnel.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that further rocket attacks by “militias” occurred on Friday, provoking more strikes by alliance warplanes, the US carried out the early strikes following the Pentagon said a US contractor died — and another contractor and five military officials were injured — by a drone that hit a US-led coalition base near Hasakah in Syria on Thursday.
US President and Syria
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the media that, at Biden’s direction, he had issued directives to conduct “precision airstrikes … in eastern parts of Syria against facilities used by groups linked with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
On Saturday, the Britain-based Observatory said at least 19 people were killed in the first wave of US strikes. According to CENTCOM no injuries or damage were reported at the base, but one rocket hit a home about five km away, causing minor injuries to two women and two kids.
The observatory said that Iran-backed militias on Friday hit a base in the Conoco gas field, provoking retaliatory strikes from coalition planes on targets in Deir Ezzor city.
The US Defense officials said that two F-15 jet fighters launched the retaliatory assault — which spokesperson Pat Ryder said was to protect and secure US personnel.
Joe Biden, speaking during a press conference with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, expressed his “deep condolences” to the family of the American citizen killed and well-wishes for the wounded. US Army Gen. Erik Kurilla also warned that its troops could conduct additional strikes if required.
