ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — One of the key oilfields in eastern Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province was attacked with artillery late Monday, several sources have said. The attack comes hours after US air forces hit Iran-backed militia groups on the border with Iraq.
A senior commander from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - which controls the field - confirmed the attack to Rudaw English but declined to provide details.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said “several artillery shells” landed on the oilfield.
The attack has so far caused material damage but it is not clear if it caused any casualties.
Syrian state media, SANA, also reported the attack, saying it was conducted with rockets.
The attack on the oilfield comes less than a day after at least four members of Iran-backed militia groups were killed by US airstrikes on theIraq-Syria border.
It is not clear if the US forces were present at the field.
Col Wayne Marotto, the spokesperson for the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) said in a tweet, "At approx. 7:44 PM local time, U.S. Forces in Syria were attacked by multiple rockets. There are no injuries and damage is being assessed. We will provide updates when we have more information."
Marotto also said on Twitter, that "U.S. Forces in Syria, while under multiple rocket attack, acted in self- defense and conducted counter-battery artillery fire at rocket launching positions."
Telegram channels linked to Iran-backed militias claimed US forces in the oilfield responded to the "rocket attack."
Updated at 11:33PM
