In a retaliatory move, two U.S. fighter jets targeted weapons and ammunition facilities in Syria on Friday. The strikes were ordered by U.S. President Joe Biden following a series of attacks on U.S. forces by Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria. These attacks had occurred over the past week and raised concerns about the potential spread of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East.
The airstrikes focused on two facilities used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and the militia groups it supports. The Pentagon issued a warning that additional measures would be taken if attacks by Iran's proxies continued. U.S. and coalition troops had faced at least 19 attacks in the region by Iran-backed forces.
The airstrikes occurred near Abu Kamal, a Syrian town on the border with Iraq, and were carried out by two F-16 fighter jets using precision munitions. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that these strikes were in response to ongoing attacks against U.S. personnel by Iranian-backed militia groups.
President Biden sent a direct message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning Tehran against targeting U.S. personnel in the Middle East. The United States sought specific actions from Iran to ensure the cessation of such attacks but did not coordinate the airstrikes with Israel.
To enhance the security of U.S. personnel in the Middle East, the United States deployed additional warships and fighter aircraft to the region over the past three weeks. On Thursday, the Pentagon announced the arrival of about 900 more U.S. troops to reinforce air defenses.
Meanwhile, Israel continued military operations in Gaza, indicating preparations for the next stage of the operation, although concerns of a broader Middle East conflict persisted. The conflict began after a Hamas attack on Israeli communities on October 7, with significant casualties reported on both sides.
The situation prompted discussions at the United Nations for a draft resolution submitted by Arab states, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Unlike the Security Council, the General Assembly does not have a veto, making such resolutions non-binding but politically influential.
The Israeli bombardment of Gaza led to a significant number of Palestinians being displaced, with around 613,000 people estimated to have lost their homes, sheltered by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
Public opinion in Israel showed a shift in support for a ground invasion of Gaza, with almost half of Israelis preferring to wait rather than immediately escalate to a large-scale offensive. This shift was attributed to ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Hamas had reported around 50 hostages killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza.
The Middle East remained a region of heightened tension, with the United States taking measures to protect its forces, increase surveillance, and bolster security in response to attacks by suspected Iran-backed groups. The situation was exacerbated by Iranian officials warning of consequences if the conflict in Gaza continued.