Islamic Resistance fighters in Iraq attacked al-Harir Air Base, which hosts US forces in northern Iraq, on Saturday, the group said, hours after the US retaliated against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. Reuters.

US ArmyPhoto: John Moore/Getty Images/Profimedia Images

Despite this statement, no attack on Al-Harir Air Base has been detected, three security sources told Reuters.

The US struck 85 targets in Syria and Iraq in response to the death of three American soldiers in Jordan

The United States has struck Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and pro-Iranian groups in Iraq and Syria, the US Middle East Command (Centcom) announced on Friday, as quoted by AFP.

“The airstrikes engaged more than 125 precision-guided munitions,” Centcom said in a statement, adding that they targeted more than 85 targets, including command and intelligence centers and drone and missile depots belonging to militias and Iranian forces, “allowing attacks on U.S. and coalition forces,” which killed three American soldiers on Sunday.

At least 18 pro-Iranian fighters were killed in US airstrikes in eastern Syria on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said, raising the initial death toll from 13.

“At least 18 pro-Iranian fighter jets were killed” in the airstrikes, including five in Deir ez-Zor, the OSDH said.

President Joe Biden said Friday that he had ordered military strikes against targets in Iraq and Syria linked to groups that have attacked US forces, and said the response would continue.

“Our response began today. It will continue at times and places we choose,” Biden said in a statement.

“The United States is not looking for conflict in the Middle East or anywhere in the world. But let all those who might harm us know: if you harm an American, we will respond,” the US president added.

Iraq blamed the US for the attack on Friday, saying it was a “violation of its sovereignty”.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza in October, the US military has attacked at least 100 times in Iraq and Syria, usually with missiles and unilateral strike drones.