US: Deadly Proxy Attack by Islamic Republic in Syria is 'Dangerous' and 'Highly Destabilizing'

The United States labeled the deadly attack on its Kurdish allies in eastern Syria by proxy groups of the Islamic Republic on Monday as 'dangerous' and 'highly destabilizing.' Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, in response to a question from Gita Arian, a journalist for VOA Persian, regarding the likelihood of Washington conducting retaliatory attacks in response to the deaths of its allies, emphasized that he would not discuss potential US actions in a press conference, adding that all these activities are 'dangerous,' 'reckless,' 'highly destabilizing,' and 'unsafe.' He stressed that the US would take appropriate steps to hold accountable those responsible for such attacks, referring to comments made by Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, who stated that more retaliatory attacks are on the way. Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria, announced on Monday that six of their fighters were killed due to a drone attack by Iranian proxy militants in the Deir ez-Zor region of eastern Syria. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group composed of several Shiite militia groups supported by the Islamic Republic, claimed responsibility for the drone attack on the 'al-Omar' oil field. The United States holds the Islamic Resistance in Iraq accountable for a deadly attack that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers, and in its first round of retaliatory attacks against Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria, it has eliminated over 40 of them. The Deputy Spokesperson responded to another question from the VOA Persian journalist regarding Iran's claims about the need for peace in the region, stating that if the Islamic Republic desires peace and stability, it should cease its activities as 'the world's largest exporter of terrorism.' During the daily press conference, Patel clarified that the purpose of the attacks was indeed to hold Iran accountable. According to Patel, the attacks on Saturday morning targeted 85 locations and 75 facilities in Iraq and Syria, which were used by the IRGC and its proxy groups to attack American forces. He reiterated that the targeted locations were 'carefully' selected to minimize civilian casualties and that there is clear and irrefutable evidence that the facilities targeted were used by groups and individuals directly involved in attacks against Americans. The facilities included command and control centers, as well as storage facilities for rockets, missiles, and drones belonging to groups affiliated with the Islamic Republic. Patel also addressed a question from another journalist regarding whether the Iraqi government was aware of the Saturday morning attacks, stating that Iraq, like any other country, knew that a deadly attack on American soldiers would provoke a US response. He added that the United States informed the Iraqi government immediately after the attacks. Beginning Saturday morning local time, the US conducted a series of airstrikes on the centers and bases of forces affiliated with the Islamic Republic and the IRGC in Syria and Iraq, which, according to the US President, is the first phase of a series of attacks following the deaths of three American soldiers and the wounding of over 40 others in Jordan.