The airstrikes targeted military posts, offices, and an ammunition warehouse belonging to Iran-backed militias in Abu Kamal and its vicinity, the United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported. A convoy of the militias entering Syria from Iraq was also targeted.
The war monitor initially reported that the airstrikes were likely conducted by American forces, but later updated the story saying the raid was “likely Israeli.”
Two members of Iraqi militia groups confirmed the attack to the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity. They did not specify if the air raids were Israeli or American.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said early on Saturday that its air forces struck areas in Syria from where two missiles were fired into Israel, without providing details of locations.
At least 19 people, including four Syrians and six Iraqis, were killed in Saturday’s attack, and more than 18 others were wounded, according to SOHR.
Iran-aligned militia groups have targeted United States interests in Iraq and Syria with rockets and drones over a hundred times since October 17, in response to American support for Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran and affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has claimed responsibility for most of the strikes on US troops.
The US has retaliated several times with airstrikes in both Iraq and Syria.
Israel has also carried out numerous airstrikes on regime-controlled areas of Syria throughout its 12-year civil war, claiming to target pro-Iran militias, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah which supports the Syrian army.
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