A war monitor said that Israeli strikes in Syria on Monday (Jan 29) killed at least seven people, including pro-Iran fighters. This becomes the latest such attack in the country against groups loyal to Tehran.&nbsp;

The incident took place just two days after three US troops were killed in a drone attack on a military outpost in Jordan, which heightened regional tensions.&nbsp;

Rami Abdel Rahman, who is the director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that "Israeli strikes targeted a base belonging to Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, killing seven people" including pro-Iran fighters.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-warship-conducts-anti-submarine-exercise-in-south-china-sea-684807">Russian warship conducts anti-submarine exercise in South China Sea</a>&nbsp;

He said that two of those killed were Syrian, including a security escort to an Iranian officer.&nbsp;

Rahman further added that it was unclear whether civilians were among the dead in the attack, which struck Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus.&nbsp;

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Ongoing escalation | Iran-backed groups target largest US base in Syria<a href="https://t.co/aSNtexuJqR">https://t.co/aSNtexuJqR</a>
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Besides the war monitor, the Syrian defence ministry also reported an "air attack" and blamed it on Israel. It said strikes around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT) targeted multiple locations south of Damascus.&nbsp;

In a post on social media, the ministry released a statement, stating that "a number of Iranian advisers" were killed. It later revised it to remove any mention of the Iranian advisers.&nbsp;

According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, "The Zionist regime (Israel) targeted an Iranian advisory centre in the Sayyida Zeinab area."&nbsp;

But Hossein Akbari, who is Iran's ambassador to Syria, denied in a social media post that an advisory centre had been struck or that "any Iranian citizens or advisers (were) martyred" in the attack.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yemens-houthi-rebels-open-seized-cargo-ship-to-sightseers-684825">Yemen’s Houthi rebels open seized cargo ship to sightseers</a>&nbsp;

<h2>US reaction to Jordan attack&nbsp;</h2>

John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, said that the White House is not seeking a war with Iran or regional escalation.&nbsp;

In an interview on NBC Television, he said: "What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the unmanned aerial drone attack on US forces and said that America "shall respond".&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A war monitor said that Israeli strikes in Syria on Monday (Jan 29) killed at least seven people, including pro-Iran fighters. This becomes the latest such attack in the country against groups loyal to Tehran.

A war monitor said that Israeli strikes in Syria on Monday (Jan 29) killed at least seven people, including pro-Iran fighters. This becomes the latest such attack in the country against groups loyal to Tehran. The incident took place just two days after three US troops were killed in a drone attack on a military outpost in Jordan, which heightened regional tensions. Rami Abdel Rahman, who is the director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that "Israeli strikes targeted a base belonging to Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, killing seven people" including pro-Iran fighters. Also read: Russian warship conducts anti-submarine exercise in South China Sea He said that two of those killed were Syrian, including a security escort to an Iranian officer. Rahman further added that it was unclear whether civilians were among the dead in the attack, which struck Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus. #SOHR Ongoing escalation | Iran-backed groups target largest US base in Syriahttps://t.co/aSNtexuJqR — المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) January 29, 2024 × Besides the war monitor, the Syrian defence ministry also reported an "air attack" and blamed it on Israel. It said strikes around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT) targeted multiple locations south of Damascus. In a post on social media, the ministry released a statement, stating that "a number of Iranian advisers" were killed. It later revised it to remove any mention of the Iranian advisers. According to Iran's Tasnim news agency, "The Zionist regime (Israel) targeted an Iranian advisory centre in the Sayyida Zeinab area." But Hossein Akbari, who is Iran's ambassador to Syria, denied in a social media post that an advisory centre had been struck or that "any Iranian citizens or advisers (were) martyred" in the attack. Also read: Yemen’s Houthi rebels open seized cargo ship to sightseers US reaction to Jordan attack John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, said that the White House is not seeking a war with Iran or regional escalation. In an interview on NBC Television, he said: "What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop." Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the unmanned aerial drone attack on US forces and said that America "shall respond". Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Middle East Crisis: Israeli strikes in Syria kill 7, including pro-Iran fighters

Supporters of Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary network dominated by Iran-backed factions, Saturday burned down the main Kurdish party's headquarters in Baghdad after criticism from a Kurdish ex-minister.

Hundreds of Hashed demonstrators swept past a security detail and stormed into the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which runs the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, and torched them.

Protesters burned Kurdish flags while others carried posters of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport last January.

In the wake of the attack, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi convened an emergency meeting of Iraq's national security council, at which he announced 15 arrests and the launch of a probe into the guards' failure to protect the KDP headquarters.

The Hashed paramilitaries were formed in 2014 from mostly-Shiite armed groups and volunteers to fight the Islamic State jihadist group.

Hashed has since been formally integrated into Iraq's armed forces and has representation in parliament, and it has spawned several ideologically affiliated armed groups.

Earlier this month, Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq's longtime former foreign minister and a key Kurdish power-broker, said the government needed to "clean up the Green Zone (in Baghdad) from the presence of Hashed militias".

They were operating "outside the law", Zebari, a KDP member, said in comments to the US-funded Al-Hurra television.

- Washington warning -

Kurdish president Nechirvan Barzani condemned Saturday's vandalism as "an act of sabotage" but also struck a unifying tone by noting that Hashed fighters had battled alongside Kurdish peshmerga forces in defeating IS.

But Massoud Barzani, the KDP's veteran head, called on the Baghdad government to hold the assailants accountable.

"Those who attack the KDP and make a mockery of the values of Kurdistan's people will pay the price for their actions," he said.

Vian Sabry, head of the KDP bloc in the Iraqi parliament, blamed "unaccountable factions for being behind such acts", without elaborating.

At the end of last month, Kurdish authorities accused Hashed militants of firing rockets at the airport in Arbil, the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan, where US troops are based.

Around 90 rocket attacks have targeted the US presence in Iraq since the January drone strike, with several claimed by pro-Iran factions.

Washington has warned it will not tolerate attacks on US interests in Iraq by Iran-backed militias.

"We can't tolerate the threats to our people, our men and women serving abroad," David Schenker, assistant secretary of state for near Eastern affairs, told reporters at the start of this month.

Schenker did not confirm or deny a reported US threat to withdraw its troops and close its embassy in Baghdad.

Several political and diplomatic sources have told AFP that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued an ultimatum that all US personnel would leave Iraq unless the government put a stop to a rash of attacks against them.

In August, a mob stormed and set fire to a television station owned by a Sunni politician for broadcasting a "festive" show on Ashura, one of the most solemn holidays on the Shiite religious calendar.

Supporters of Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary network dominated by Iran-backed factions, Saturday burned down the main Kurdish party's headquarters in Baghdad after criticism from a Kurdish ex-minister.

Supporters of Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary network dominated by Iran-backed factions, Saturday burned down the main Kurdish party's headquarters in Baghdad after criticism from a Kurdish ex-minister. Hundreds of Hashed demonstrators swept past a security detail and stormed into the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which runs the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, and torched them. Protesters burned Kurdish flags while others carried posters of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport last January. In the wake of the attack, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi convened an emergency meeting of Iraq's national security council, at which he announced 15 arrests and the launch of a probe into the guards' failure to protect the KDP headquarters. The Hashed paramilitaries were formed in 2014 from mostly-Shiite armed groups and volunteers to fight the Islamic State jihadist group. Hashed has since been formally integrated into Iraq's armed forces and has representation in parliament, and it has spawned several ideologically affiliated armed groups. Earlier this month, Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq's longtime former foreign minister and a key Kurdish power-broker, said the government needed to "clean up the Green Zone (in Baghdad) from the presence of Hashed militias". They were operating "outside the law", Zebari, a KDP member, said in comments to the US-funded Al-Hurra television. - Washington warning - Kurdish president Nechirvan Barzani condemned Saturday's vandalism as "an act of sabotage" but also struck a unifying tone by noting that Hashed fighters had battled alongside Kurdish peshmerga forces in defeating IS. But Massoud Barzani, the KDP's veteran head, called on the Baghdad government to hold the assailants accountable. "Those who attack the KDP and make a mockery of the values of Kurdistan's people will pay the price for their actions," he said. Vian Sabry, head of the KDP bloc in the Iraqi parliament, blamed "unaccountable factions for being behind such acts", without elaborating. At the end of last month, Kurdish authorities accused Hashed militants of firing rockets at the airport in Arbil, the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan, where US troops are based. Around 90 rocket attacks have targeted the US presence in Iraq since the January drone strike, with several claimed by pro-Iran factions. Washington has warned it will not tolerate attacks on US interests in Iraq by Iran-backed militias. "We can't tolerate the threats to our people, our men and women serving abroad," David Schenker, assistant secretary of state for near Eastern affairs, told reporters at the start of this month. Schenker did not confirm or deny a reported US threat to withdraw its troops and close its embassy in Baghdad. Several political and diplomatic sources have told AFP that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued an ultimatum that all US personnel would leave Iraq unless the government put a stop to a rash of attacks against them. In August, a mob stormed and set fire to a television station owned by a Sunni politician for broadcasting a "festive" show on Ashura, one of the most solemn holidays on the Shiite religious calendar.

Pro-Iran protesters torch Kurd party offices in Baghdad

Airstrikes by unidentified warplanes have killed five pro-Iran fighters in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/around-200-displaced-syrians-leave-al-hol-camp-kurdish-official-266983">Syria's eastern province</a> of Deir Ezzor near the Iraqi border, a Britain-based war monitor said on Sunday.

The strikes late Saturday targeted "positions of Iranian forces and allied militias" on the edge of the town of Albukamal, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"Five non-Syrian fighters were killed," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, without being able to provide their nationalities.

Regime troops, Iranian forces and allied Iran-backed fighters, including from Iraq, are present in the area on the western banks of the Euphrates River, he said.

According to the Observatory, 10 Iraqi fighters were killed in September in airstrikes of unknown origin in the same area.

At the start of that month, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-strikes-kill-19-civilians-in-northwest-syria-monitor-266857">air raids killed 18 pro-Iran fighters</a>, the monitor reported.

In June 2018, strikes near the Iraqi border killed 55 pro-regime forces, mostly Syrians and Iraqis, the Observatory said.

An American official said at the time that Israel was responsible, but the Jewish state declined to comment.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria on what it says are positions of Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and Iranian forces, which it has vowed to prevent gaining a foothold in Syrian territory.

But the US-led coalition that has been fighting the Islamic State group has in the past also admitted to carrying out airstrikes against pro-regime fighters.

The coalition is backing Kurdish-led fighters on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-military-completes-pullback-from-northeast-syria-esper-says-266313">eastern shores</a> of the Euphrates.

Airstrikes by unidentified warplanes have killed five pro-Iran fighters in Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor near the Iraqi border, a Britain-based war monitor said on Sunday.

Airstrikes by unidentified warplanes have killed five pro-Iran fighters in Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor near the Iraqi border, a Britain-based war monitor said on Sunday. The strikes late Saturday targeted "positions of Iranian forces and allied militias" on the edge of the town of Albukamal, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "Five non-Syrian fighters were killed," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, without being able to provide their nationalities. Regime troops, Iranian forces and allied Iran-backed fighters, including from Iraq, are present in the area on the western banks of the Euphrates River, he said. According to the Observatory, 10 Iraqi fighters were killed in September in airstrikes of unknown origin in the same area. At the start of that month, air raids killed 18 pro-Iran fighters, the monitor reported. In June 2018, strikes near the Iraqi border killed 55 pro-regime forces, mostly Syrians and Iraqis, the Observatory said. An American official said at the time that Israel was responsible, but the Jewish state declined to comment. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria on what it says are positions of Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and Iranian forces, which it has vowed to prevent gaining a foothold in Syrian territory. But the US-led coalition that has been fighting the Islamic State group has in the past also admitted to carrying out airstrikes against pro-regime fighters. The coalition is backing Kurdish-led fighters on the eastern shores of the Euphrates.

Syria: Airstrikes kill five pro-Iran fighters

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Middle East Crisis: Israeli strikes in Syria kill 7, including pro-Iran fighters

Pro-Iran protesters torch Kurd party offices in Baghdad

Syria: Airstrikes kill five pro-Iran fighters