19 pro-Iran militants reportedly killed in US strikes in Syria

ANKARA

At least 19 militants were killed in US airstrikes on military bases housing Iranian militias in eastern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Saturday.

The UK-based group said the US airstrikes came in retaliation to attacks carried out by pro-Iranian groups on US military bases in eastern Syria.

Five non-Syrians were among those killed in the attacks, the rights observatory said, without specifying their nationalities.

Following the attacks, US President Joe Biden said his forces will "act forcefully" to protect troops. However, he said Washington is not seeking a conflict with Iran.