US again bombs “pro-Iranian militias in Syria”, exodus from Gaza City: evacuation route also open today

In response to pro-Iranian militias’ attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria, two US F-15s struck a weapons depot in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and affiliated groups. This was stated by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

He speaks of a “self-defense attack”. The attack killed 9 people linked to pro-Iranian militias, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said.

Nine people died

Pro-Iranian militias have stepped up their attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks in response to Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have now lasted a month.

According to the Pentagon, pro-Iranian militias have attacked US bases at least 40 times since mid-October: 22 times in Iraq and 18 times in Syria. The drone and missile attacks are said to have been unsuccessful. “There were no serious injuries among American soldiers,” it said.

Palestinians continue to leave Gaza City as Israel steps up its ground offensive there. The Israeli army says they have surrounded the city and that the extremist group Hamas has lost control of the north of the city. There are reports of bombings in both the north and south.

During the evening briefing of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), spokesman Daniel Hagari said that more and more Gazans are traveling south in search of safety, water, food and medicine. Images show them fleeing on foot or by horse and cart. Some wave a white flag to show they are innocent.

According to Hagari, the north-south evacuation route will also be opened today. Yesterday – according to Israel – 50,000 people are said to have left the area around Gaza City.

The evacuation route runs via the Salah al-Din road, where a refugee camp awaits in the middle of the Gaza Strip.