The United States military carried out airstrikes on Wednesday, hitting an Iranian facility in Syria. 

According to U.S. Central Command, the facility was used by the IRGC Quds Force and "affiliated groups." Two F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bombers were used in the attack.

Following a series of attacks against U.S. persons in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces conducted an air strike against a facility in Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. We will take all necessary measures to… pic.twitter.com/KoLGWbnaxo

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 8, 2023

The facility was described as a "weapons storage facility" by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who ended his statement on the strike by saying "The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities. We urge against any escalation.”

This is no doubt a response to recent attacks on U.S. bases in the area carried out by Iranian-backed Islamist militias. Rocket barrages have resulted in multiple injuries over the last several weeks, with an increase occurring after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th. 

Some are trying to hype this up as a major escalation, but I'd caution anyone running with that theme. The U.S. military has been bombing Iranian proxies in Syria for over a decade, whether to protect bases in the area or to destroy ISIS. This is likely just a brush-back pitch to show that we will respond to continued aggression. The overall situation remains the same, though, which is that there is nothing the Iranians want less than an actual war with the United States.