Israel-Iran conflict: Iran launches major attack on US military base in Syria

Tensions in the Middle East have intensified following a retaliatory strike by Iran on a US military base in Syria, just 36 hours after the United States carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The escalating conflict has put American military installations in the region on high alert.

According to Iranian-affiliated news agencies, the mortar attack targeted a US base in the Hasaka region of western Syria. Following the strike, security was significantly increased in and around the base, especially at all entry points. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, intelligence sources and previous Iranian warnings suggest that Iran was behind the assault.

This strike marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, with the United States now directly involved in retaliatory exchanges.

The Iranian offensive comes in response to recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, executed using B-2 stealth bombers. The US administration, led by President Joe Biden, stated that the operation was aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear weapons development.

These airstrikes were part of a broader campaign to dismantle Iran’s uranium enrichment infrastructure and disrupt any potential weaponization efforts.

The incident has sparked renewed fears of a wider military confrontation in the Middle East. The United States maintains military bases in 19 countries across the Gulf region, including Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Jordan. An estimated 50,000 American troops are stationed at these bases, many of which are now considered potential targets amid rising hostilities.