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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Beirut - London - Asharq Al-Awsat

Daytime Strikes Target Iranian Militias in Eastern Syria

A sign welcoming to the city of Al Bukamal

Six Iranian proxy militants were killed in an unidentified missile strike against the Iraq-Syria border city of Al Bukamal. It was not known whether Israeli fighter jets or the US-led international coalition had staged the raid.

“Violent explosions, on Friday midnight, rocked Al Bukamal city which is controlled by militias loyal to Iran stationed in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor,” the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

“Explosions that hit al-Sikkah neighborhood in Al Bukamal were caused by missile strikes that killed six Iranian proxy militiamen in addition to destroying their vehicles,” local sources told the Observatory.

There is a raging controversy on whether the missile strikes were fired by Israeli fighter jets or by international coalition military bases located on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River.

No reports of civilian losses have been made so far.

On Thursday, the Observatory reported on unidentified jets carrying out raids for the second day in a row, targeting positions held by Iran-linked militias in Al-Sabkha Desert, located southeast of Raqqa city.

Unknown jets, until now, continue to stage air raids against the southeastern countryside of Raqqa governorate, where ISIS and Iranian militia concentrations are present.

German news agency DPA reported that fighter jets on Friday night had fired a number of missiles over Raqqa city and in the direction of the governorate’s southern countryside.

“Unknown warplanes, believed to be belonging to the international coalition, fired missiles from over the city. Fire flames and smoke were seen rising over the city after the missiles were fired towards the southern countryside of the governorate,” locals at Raqqa city told DPA.

The missile blast shattered the glass windows of shops and homes in the target’s vicinity, locals confirmed.

Syrian opposition media reported on US fighter jets breaking the sound barrier on Friday noon over Raqqa city, an event that stirred panic among locals who have long suffered the turmoil of war.

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