For the second time in a few weeks, the US military struck a facility in eastern Syria on Wednesday that it said was linked to the Revolutionary Guards, an elite body of Iran’s army, and armed groups close to Tehran.

According to a press release signed by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, two F-15 fighter jets struck a “weapons depot” in retaliation for attacks on US personnel in Syria and Iraq.

“US armed forces conducted a defensive strike on a facility in eastern Syria used by the Revolutionary Guards and organizations affiliated with them,” according to the text.

According to the US Pentagon, in recent weeks US forces and other countries of the international anti-jihadist coalition have been the target of at least 40 attacks with drones and rockets, against the backdrop of the Israel/Hamas war.

Mr. Austin said that if attacks against US troops continue, the US is “ready” to “take further necessary steps” to “protect” them.

The new US strikes come against a backdrop of concerns that the Israel/Hamas war will spread to the region and the deployment of a strong US air force in the region, including aircraft carriers with strike forces, a nuclear submarine and other assets, for “deterrence” purposes , according to Washington.

Nine killed in US strikes against Iranian facility in Syria, says Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

At least nine people linked to Iran-backed groups were killed today in a US airstrike in Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“Nine people working for Iran-backed organizations were killed in US strikes on facilities used by pro-Iranian organizations,” Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based non-governmental organization, which relies on a wide network of sources in the country, told AFP. Syria.