US strikes Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for attacks on US troops
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00:00 The target of the US strikes in southeastern Syria, weapons and ammunition facilities used
00:06 by Iranian-backed armed groups.
00:08 This was a promised response to multiple drone and rocket attacks on US military sites in
00:14 the region over the last week at the Al-Tanf garrison in Syria and the Al-Asad airbase
00:19 in Iraq.
00:20 "I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces
00:26 against any threat."
00:28 The retaliatory US attacks targeted Iran's state-backed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
00:34 and affiliated groups.
00:36 In a statement, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US had no desire to engage
00:41 in further hostilities but he said Iran wanted to deny its role in attacks against US forces,
00:47 which the US would not allow.
00:50 Austin said the strikes were separate and distinct from the Israel-Hamas conflict, but
00:55 Iran provides material support to Hamas, money, weapons and training, as well as to Hezbollah,
01:01 which controls southern Lebanon and is exchanging rocket fire with Israel at the border.
01:06 And Iran considers Israel a US proxy.
01:09 Its foreign minister has warned the region will go out of control if the US and Israel
01:14 don't immediately stop the strikes on Gaza.
01:17 Fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spill over across the region are shared by all sides.
01:23 Washington is preparing for more hostilities.
01:25 It's already sent two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region.
01:29 Now it's deploying an extra 900 troops to bolster air defences for the thousands of
01:35 US soldiers already in Syria and Iraq.
01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]