The US military attack on Iranian proxy forces in Syria was carried out by Air Force F-15 jet fighters that dropped a total of seven 500-pound laser-guided bombs, which emerged Friday – but not all of the original targets were destroyed.
The mission called for two separate compounds in Syria to be targeted. However, American officials told Fox News that the second target was aborted when a drone orbiting overhead saw many civilians on the target.
In the end, the F-15s bombed seven small buildings in eastern Syria at around 1 am local time this morning, the first day of the weekend in the Middle East.
USA LAUNCHES AIRSTRIKE AGAINST IRANIAN SUPPORT FORCES IN SYRIA
For one perspective, Israel has launched more than 200 air strikes like this in Syria in recent years.
The authorities say it is now up to Iran to take the next step.
The Iraqi military on Friday also indicated that they had not cooperated in any way with the U.S. air strike in Syria, saying it only works with the US against ISIS, according to local reports.
Still, on a flight back to Andrews Air Force Base last night from the west coast, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin thanked Iraq for its help in the attack.
“We allow and encourage Iraqis to investigate and develop intelligence and that was very helpful in refining the target,” he said.
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The strike was President Biden’s first known military action. The Shiite militia groups based on the Iraqi border targeted by him – Kait’ib Hezbollah and Kait’ib Sayyid al Shuhada – are both suspected of having received funding and military support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
At least one fighter was killed, according to reports citing an Iraqi militia officer. Reuters, citing local sources, also reported that at least 17 died, while the Associated Press quoted the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying that 22 fighters were killed – but no death toll could be confirmed.
Jennifer Griffin and Caitlin McFall of Fox News contributed to this report.