What’s Happening
Following the US’ strikes against militant and IRGC targets in both Iraq and Syria on February 2nd, the Syrian Ministry of Defence has released a statement accusing the US of striking “the same area where the Syrian Arab Army is fighting the remnants of the terrorist organization ISIS”, stating it “confirms” that the US is “involved and allied with this organization, working to revive it as a field arm for them in Syria and Iraq by all dirty means”. They further claim that the strikes resulted in the “martyrdom of a number of civilians and military personnel”.
Iraq’s government a number of hours ago also condemned the strikes, calling them a “violation of Iraqi sovereignty”.
The strikes hit 85 different targets in at least 125 strikes spread across both Syria and Iraq, and were in response to an attack by an Iranian-back militant group on a US military base in Jordan which killed 3 US soldiers, and wounded at least 34 others.
CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria
At 4:00 p.m. (EST) Feb. 02, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces… pic.twitter.com/HeLMFDx9zY
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 2, 2024
While the strikes targeted Iranian military targets and Iran backed militias located within Syria and Iraq, they fell short of striking any targets within Iran itself, an escalation which many had speculated as a possibility.
The full Syrian MoD statement may be read below:
Early this morning, the American occupation forces launched a blatant arial aggression on several locations and towns in the eastern region of Syria, near the Syrian-Iraqi border, resulting in the martyrdom of a number of civilians and military personnel, injuring others, and causing significant damage to public and private property.
The area targeted by the American attacks in eastern Syria is the same area where the Syrian Arab Army is fighting the remnants of the terrorist organization ISIS, and this confirms that the United States and its military forces are involved and allied with this organization, working to revive it as a field arm for them in Syria and Iraq by all dirty means.
The aggression by the American occupation forces this morning has no justification other than an attempt to weaken the ability of the Syrian Arab Army and its allies in the field of fighting terrorism. However, the army, which has been able to defeat various terrorist organizations over the years, will continue firmly and principled in defending Syria, its land, and its people, striking all organizations regardless of their sponsors and supporters trying to hinder this goal.
The occupation of parts of Syrian lands by American forces cannot continue, and the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces affirms its ongoing war against terrorism until it is eradicated and its determination to liberate the entire Syrian lands from all terrorism and occupation.