BREAKING: US airstrikes target Iranian-backed terrorist groups near Iraq-Syria border

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said that the facilities which were targeted are used by Iran-backed terrorist groups Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS) to carry out the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against US personnel and bases in Iraq.

"As demonstrated by this evening's strikes, President Biden has been clear that he will act to protect US personnel. Given the ongoing series of attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting US interests in Iraq, the President directed further military action to disrupt and deter such attacks. The United States took necessary, appropriate, and deliberate action designed to limit the risk of escalation - but also to send a clear and unambiguous deterrent message."

According to Fox News US Air Force F-15s and F-16s were used in the operation which took place at 6 PM Eastern Time, 1 AM local time. One of the targets which was destroyed was a facility used by terrorists to launch and recover drones.

The Pentagon said in a statement, "Specifically, the US strikes targeted operational and weapons storage facilities at two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq, both of which lie close to the border between those countries. Several Iran-backed militia groups, including Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), used these facilities."

"As a matter of international law, the United States acted pursuant to its right of self-defense. The strikes were both necessary to address the threat and appropriately limited in scope. As a matter of domestic law, the President took this action pursuant to his Article II authority to protect US personnel in Iraq."

This is a developing story.