More attacks on US positions in Syria following Biden’s response to killing of contractor

Two U.S. military bases in eastern Syria were targeted in an apparent retaliatory attack for airstrikes the United States carried out on Friday. The U.S. strike was reportedly a response to a U.S. contractor being killed by what is believed to be an Iranian drone.

U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, released a statement saying that 10 rockets targeted coalition forces at the Mission Support Site Green Village compound in northeast Syria.

“The attack resulted in no injuries to U.S. or coalition personnel and no damage to equipment or facilities,” CENTCOM said, claiming that the rocket barrage hit a civilian house, about five kilometers from the compound, injuring women and children.

U.S. President Joe Biden ordered a series of airstrikes in retaliation for the rocket attack, which killed several Iranian fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. But be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people,” Biden said at a press conference on Friday.

CENTCOM reported that the U.S. airstrikes targeted “facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).” The Iranian Advisory Committee in Syria confirmed that several fighters had been killed, although it did not specify their nationalities.

The Iranian Advisory Committee also released a statement following the incident, saying, “We have the capability to respond if our centers and forces in Syria are targeted.”

On Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed that the U.S. strikes hit “civilian targets” with Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani claiming the U.S presence in Syria is “illegal” and a “violation of international law,” while Iranian forces are in Syria at the government’s invitation.

“The military advisers of the Islamic Republic of Iran are present in Syria at the request of the Syrian government,” Kanaani claimed.

Several analysts said they did not expect a major escalation, despite the temporary uptick in back-and-forth attacks.