US military airstrikes in eastern Syria were a message to Iran and Tehran-backed groups that targeted US troops this month and several other times last year, the Pentagon said Wednesday, the AP reported.
Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of defense, told reporters that U.S. airstrikes overnight on facilities used by a group backed by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard showed that "the United States will not hesitate to defend itself against aggression supported by from Iran".
He said the US decision to launch strikes was based on the nature of militant attacks on August 15 where US troops were stationed.
In Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned the American attack. He denied that Iran has ties to US targets.
Iran has consistently denied arming militant groups that target US forces in the region.
