Iran slams ‘illegal’ US military presence, repeated attacks in Syria
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned US President Joe Biden over the latest US air and artillery strikes in Syria’s eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, saying US presence in Syria and its repeated acts of aggression in the Arab country are illegal.
Nasser Kan’ani, in a post published on his Twitter page on Friday, argued that Washington has “described the recent attacks by its aggressor army against Syrian popular groups and anti-terrorism forces as ‘a direct response to the continuous attacks and threats against the United States forces.’’’
He added that in essence, the presence of the American occupation forces in Syria and their aggression against the defenders of the country’s independence and territorial integrity are unlawful and deplorable.
Biden claimed on Thursday that the US artillery strikes in eastern Syria were ordered to protect American forces from attacks by “Iran-backed groups.”
“I directed the August 23 strikes in order to protect and defend the safety of our personnel . . . and to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran-backed groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on United States personnel and facilities,” Biden said in a statement informing Congress of the action.
He asserted that the US strikes responded to a series of rocket attacks on the facilities of US and allied militants in the area, including two on the al-Tanf Garrison and the Mission Support Site Green Village on August 15.
Biden said the attacks, which involved Apache attack helicopters, AC-130 gunships, and M777 artillery, targeted a facility used by the Syrian government troops and their allies for logistics and ammunition storage.
The Washington Post, citing the US military, reported that the Wednesday strikes had “targeted infrastructure used by groups with ties to Iran’s” Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Kan’ani dismissed the claim and described the strike as a “terrorist” act against the people of Syria and the popular anti-terror groups in the country, denying any link between the groups and the Islamic Republic.
The US military has stationed forces and equipment in northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.
Damascus, however, maintains the deployment is meant to plunder the country’s natural resources.
Former US president Donald Trump admitted on more than one occasion that American forces were in the Arab country for its oil.
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