US strikes targeting pro-Iranian groups kill 19

US airstrikes targeting pro-Iranian groups in Syria have killed 19 people, an NGO reported on Saturday (March 26th). Washington said it carried out the strikes overnight from Thursday to Friday after Thursday’s drone attack “of Iranian descent” against a base of the international coalition led by the United States near Hassaké, in northeastern Syria, which caused the death of an American contractor. Another contractor and five soldiers were injured.

Syria denounces “American lies”

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he ordered, on the instructions of President Joe Biden, “precision airstrikes (…) against facilities used by groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard Corps”, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Joe Biden added that the United States “born [cherchaient] not the conflict with Iran, but (were) ready to act with force to protect their people”.

In a statement on Saturday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced “American lies about targeted sites”. For Damascus, it is a “vain attempt to justify an act of aggression and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Syria”he added.