US Strikes Kill Iran-Backed Fighters On Iraq-Syria Border

US defence spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that three military facilities used by Iran-backed militia had been hit -- two in Syria and one in Iraq.

US air strikes against Iran-backed armed groups on the Syrian-Iraqi border killed at least seven fighters overnight into Monday, sparking immediate calls for revenge and fears of a new escalation between Washington and Tehran. The second such raid on pro-Iran targets since US President Joe Biden took office, described by the Pentagon as "retaliatory", came despite faltering efforts to revive a key deal over Iran's nuclear programme. US defence spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that three military facilities used by Iran-backed militia had been hit -- two in Syria and one in Iraq. Kirby said that the targets had been used by "Iran-backed militias that are engaged in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against US personnel and facilities in Iraq."