THE United States launched air strikes against targets in eastern Syria today, saying they were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Pentagon said the attacks were carried out in retaliation for drone and missile attacks against US bases and personnel in the region that began early last week.

A senior US military official said the strikes were carried out near Boukamal by two F-16 fighter jets, hitting weapons and ammunition storage areas that were connected to the IRGC. 

The military source claimed there had been Iranian-aligned militia and IRGC personnel on the base and no civilians, but provided no information on casualties or assessment of damage. 

A senior defence official said the sites were chosen because the IRGC stores types of munitions there that were used in recent attacks against US bases and troops which killed a contractor and injured 21 soldiers. 

The bombing targeted two points south of the Euphrates River, between the towns of Albukamal and al-Mayadeen.

Syrian military sources denied that two weapons warehouses were destroyed in the bombings, saying they were joint positions used by Syrian forces and local militia formed by Iran.

The sources said the role of the militia was to help in the fight against terrorism and occupation.

They added that the same area was bombed by Washington earlier this year.

The attacks occurred in the midst of regular Israeli strikes since the beginning of the year, which have accelerated since the surprise Hamas uprising in Gaza on October 7.

The US has sent two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, raising fears of a widening of the conflict in the region.

Washington has insisted any strikes by their military would be directly tied to the attacks on its troops and not connected to the war between Israel-Gaza war. 

But the US maintains 15 bases in Syrian territory without the consent of the Damascus government or the approval of the United Nations.

Syria has repeatedly denounced this violation of its sovereignty, which spokespeople often describe as an occupation.

The Syrians have also said the actions of the US are part of an attempt to loot the wealth of their country and encourages terrorist activity.

According to the Pentagon, there have now been at least 19 attacks on US bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria since October 17, including three new ones on Thursday.