Iranian state television has accused the United States of being behind the attack, despite Washington’s denials.
Airstrikes have hit eastern Syria along the Iraqi border, hitting Iran-backed fighter jets and causing casualties, Syrian War Monitor, Iranian state television and Iraqi paramilitary sources said.
Although casualty figures have not been confirmed, two Iraqi paramilitary officers said some of those killed in the attack late Tuesday were Iranian nationals. reported that at least 14 people had died, most of them combatants.
The attack hit a convoy of “weapon-laden fuel tankers and trucks” for fighter jets in eastern Syria’s Deir Az Zor province, the Syrian Observatory said, according to the Syrian Observatory.
It’s not yet clear who was behind the attack, but US forces have carried out similar attacks in the past.
However, the US military has so far denied any involvement. Army Major Rachel L. Jeffcourt said, “No US military or US-led coalition[members]has carried out airstrikes in Iraq’s Al-Qaim, on the border with Syria.”
A convoy of 22 tanker trucks was heading from Iran to Lebanon, an Iraqi border guard official said. After entering Syrian territory through the Al-Qaim and Abu Kamal border crossings, 10 trucks were attacked, 4 of which were “burnt down”.
The activist group Deir Ezzor 24 reported three airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militias in the Syrian border town of Abu Kamal and surrounding areas.
Earlier, members of Iraqi militias operating in the region said at least 10 people were killed in airstrikes on convoys carrying fuel across the Iraqi border into Syria late Tuesday.
Iranian state television Press TV claimed the convoy was carrying Iranian oil to Lebanon via Syria, but did not give details of casualties. It also claimed that the convoy attack was carried out by US drones and helicopters, adding that the attack took place after eight trucks entered Syria.
Pro-Iranian fighters have a large presence around the Iraqi-Syrian border.
Iran, a major supporter of Syrian President Assad, has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian government forces in their 11-year war against the country’s opposition.
In August, US forces carried out an air raid in Deir Az Zor targeting Iran-backed fighter jets after rocket attacks lightly injured several US soldiers. At least two fighters described by US Central Command as “suspected Iranian-backed militants” have been killed. The Pentagon said the attack was a message to Iran.
