In a recent escalation of tensions in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province, at least nine pro-Iran militiamen were reported killed in airstrikes on Tuesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The strikes, which occurred after midnight, targeted sites and headquarters belonging to Iran-affiliated militias, resulting in casualties and injuries.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, confirmed the death toll and noted that among the deceased was a militia leader. Local media outlet DeirEzzor24 specified that the strikes aimed at military and security installations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), critically injuring a commander identified as Hajj Askar.

These airstrikes unfold against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, with recent hostilities between Israel and Gaza further exacerbating the situation. Washington’s alleged involvement in the strikes adds fuel to already simmering tensions, as the United States has engaged in retaliatory measures against pro-Iran militias in both Syria and Iraq.

Since October 7, US troops stationed in Iraq and Syria have faced a series of rocket and drone attacks attributed to pro-Iran militias. These attacks, seen as retaliation for US support of Israel during the conflict with Gaza, have prompted Washington to launch countermeasures.

Earlier in February, the United States initiated a significant retaliation campaign targeting the IRGC-Quds Force and affiliated militia groups in Syria. This action was taken in response to a drone strike by pro-Iran militias that resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers at a military base in Jordan a week prior.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network comprising shadow Iraqi militia groups aligned with the IRGC, has claimed responsibility for over 165 rocket and drone attacks targeting US interests in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan.

The ongoing tensions come at a critical juncture, with approximately 2,500 American troops stationed in Iraq and 900 in Syria leading an international coalition as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. This coalition has been instrumental in supporting Kurdish, Iraqi, and local Syrian forces in their fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.

As the situation unfolds, the implications of these airstrikes and their aftermath continue to reverberate across the volatile landscape of the Middle East, raising concerns about the escalation of hostilities and the potential for further violence in the region.