After attacks by Iranian-backed forces, US carrier repositioned near Syria: Pentagon

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) – The Pentagon said Monday that the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean has been repositioned near the Syrian coast as a precaution after Iranian-backed forces launched attacks on American military bases in Syria.

"We saw increased attacks from (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) IRGC-affiliated groups targeting our service members across Syria, and as a precaution, we did move the carrier to be slightly closer," Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told a press briefing.

Singh stressed that the reason for positioning the carrier was in response to the attacks.

Asked by Anadolu whether the vessel is being kept in the region for a possible military strike on Iran, Singh said: "This was about the attacks that we saw on our service members in the region and the response to that.”

Late last month, a drone attack killed one American contractor and wounded at least six US military personnel. The Pentagon blamed Iran for it.

The US carried out airstrikes in response.

Later, two more US bases in eastern Syria came under rocket attack, which reportedly caused damage but no casualties. The bases targeted were located near the al-Omar oilfield and the Koniko gas field in Deir ez-Zor province,