No IRGC bases in east Syria for US to strike: Security source to Unews

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Oct 2023 18:17
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The source denies to the news agency the US claims of striking an IRGC base as the military unit has no operation centers in east Syria.

A US soldier sits atop an armored vehicle next to a US occupation base in Syria’s al-Hasakah Province in October 2019 (AFP)

An informed security source denied to Unews agency reports of an American strike targeting sites belonging to the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in east Syria, confirming that there exists no IRGC bases or centers operating in that region.

Earlier, US news outlets claimed that American fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Friday morning targeting two bases in east Syria used by the IRGC and affiliated groups, in response to the operations taking place recently against US occupation bases in Iraq and Syria.

Further commenting on media claims, the source said that Iran's involvement in Syria is solely based on providing consultancy services, which comes at the official request of the Syrian government.

Confirming Unews' report, The Wall Street Journal, citing a US defense official, revealed that the US army did not conduct raids where it had determined as being the launch sites, adding that strikes were carried out around two Syrian outposts as a message to Resistance group that the United States will respond to operations against its forces.

Commenting on the airstrikes, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed that Washington does not seek an escalation, stressing that operations against its forces "must stop".

“The United States does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop,” Austin said. “Iran wants to hide its hand and deny its role in these attacks against our forces. We will not let them.”

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq had claimed responsibility for over 15 operations targeting US occupation bases in Iraq and Syria since October 7 in support of Palestinians. According to the White House, the attacks resulted in the wounding of over 30 American military personnel.