Syrian Media: U.S.-led Coalition Fires Missiles at Government Facilities

Missiles were fired from al-Tanf base

Syrian state media is reporting that military positions south of the town of Sukhna are being hit by missiles fired by US and coalition forces from the al-Tanf base. The US has not yet confirmed the attack.

Exactly what is being targeted or why isn’t entirely clear. The Syrian media has so far reported that the strikes have only done material damage, and not inflicted any casualties.

It is not unusual for the US to use its Tanf base to pick fights with Syrian government forces in southern Syria. This would be the first time, however, that the US has used the base to fire missiles at military targets.

Such a attack is potentially dangerous, as it risks bringing the US into direct conflict with Russia, which is supporting the Syrian government. The US has been clear their position in Syria aims ultimately for regime change, but trying to get into direct military fighting to impose that would risk escalating the fight.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.