Israel-Hamas war: U.S. Launches military Strikes In Syria, Nine Arab Countries Condemn Gaza Bombing

The U.S. has launched military strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria on President Joe Biden’s orders.

The facilities were used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in retaliation for attacks on U.S. forces, the U.S. Department of Defense said late Thursday.

VerseNews reports that this was confirmed by the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin who stated that, “The United States does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop.”

Earlier, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Morocco condemned the targeting of civilians and violations of international law in Gaza by Israeli forces.

In a joint statement, the Arab nations reportedly said that Israel’s right to self-defense following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks did not justify breaking the law and neglecting Palestinians’ rights.

The Israel Defense Forces said they conducted an overnight raid in northern Gaza, “as part of preparations for the next stages of combat.”

The IDF’s Givati Brigade used tanks as part of the operation, and soldiers left the area once it was completed, the military added.

The raid is not believed to form part of Israel’s highly anticipated ground invasion of Gaza, but comes amid heightened expectations of a step-up in the IDF’s offensive in the enclave.

Fuel, meanwhile, is running out in the Gaza Strip and a U.N. humanitarian relief agency warns its aid operations in the area could be obstructed as a result.

As the international community sounds the alarm on a growing humanitarian crisis in the region, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has called for a “pause” in Israel’s military operations against Hamas in order to allow more aid to get into the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a news conference, Biden stressed that Israel needs to do “everything in its power to protect innocent civilians.”