Rocket fire targets American base in Syria after U.S. missile strike

An image grab taken from a broadcast by Syria TV shows smoke billowing from a facility used by pro-Iranian fighters following U.S. air strikes on the Syrian-Iraqi border, June 28, 2021. /CFP

Rocket fire targeted a U.S. military base in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Monday evening, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

The targeted base is located in the al-Omar oil field in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, SANA said, without providing further details.

Meanwhile, the pro-rebel Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack caused damage and burned cars in the base, without any mention of casualties.

The UK-based watchdog said that pro-Iran fighters were behind the rocket fire.

Following the attack, areas under the control of the pro-Iranian fighters in the al-Mayadin city in Deir al-Zour witnessed several explosions, which appeared to be retaliatory shelling from the targeted U.S. base in the al-Omar field, the Observatory said.

The exchange of fire comes after the United States carried out a missile strike at 1 a.m. on Monday on pro-Iranian fighters' positions in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour near the Iraqi border, killing five.

Washington claims that pro-Iran militiamen are responsible for attacks against U.S. positions in Iraq.

It was the second time U.S. President Joe Biden had ordered retaliatory strikes against pro-Iranian fighters since taking office five months ago. He ordered limited strikes in Syria in February, that time in response to rocket attacks in Iraq.

(With input from Xinhua, Reuters)