The U.S. has carried out a second series of strikes on facilities linked to Iran, responding to ongoing attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following President Biden's directive, confirmed the strikes, pinpointing a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria utilized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. The operation involved two U.S. F-15s.

Austin emphasized the nation's readiness to take additional measures to safeguard its people and facilities, urging restraint to prevent escalation. The initial strikes occurred on Oct. 26, targeting Iran-linked facilities. Since Oct. 17, there have been 41 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, with the latest on Wednesday involving a multi-rocket assault on U.S. forces at al-Shaddadi, Syria.

No injuries have been reported in attacks since the first U.S. retaliatory strikes, but 46 service members sustained injuries between Oct. 17 and Oct. 21. Of these, 25 were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, with two requiring follow-up care in Germany, while the remaining 21 were classified as "minor injuries."

The coalition to defeat ISIS includes around 900 U.S. service members in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq.