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The US military carried out air strikes in eastern Syria on the orders of President Joe Biden.

It was the first officially known military operation under the command of the new US president.

The US Department of Defense said the target of the attacks was "multiple facilities" at a border crossing.

These were used by militias supported by Iran, said spokesman John Kirby on Thursday evening (local time).

The air strikes were a "proportionate" response to recent attacks against US soldiers and their international partners in Iraq.

According to reports by the news broadcaster CNN, which cited US sources, “up to a handful” of members of the militia were killed in the attack.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the attacks.

"I am proud of the men and women in our ranks who carried out this attack."

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"The mission sends a clear message," said Kirby.

President Biden is ready to act when it comes to protecting US military personnel and their allies.

At the same time, the proportionate attacks were deliberately carried out in order to "de-escalate the situation in eastern Syria and Iraq," said Kirby.

According to the Pentagon, the destroyed infrastructure was used by the Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah, among others.

"We know what we hit," Kirby ruled out any mistake.

"We are sure that the target was used by the Shiite militias who carried out the attacks (in Iraq)."

The Syrian state media did not comment on the US attack until morning.

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A civilian contractor belonging to the international military coalition was killed in a rocket attack on the northern Iraqi city of Erbil last week and several people were injured.

The attack had fueled fears of further violence against US and international forces in Iraq.

A total of 14 rockets were shot down.

The attack on the pro-Iranian militias comes shortly after Washington reaches out to Tehran and seeks to change course.

Only last week the US government had publicly agreed to talks to save the international nuclear deal with Iran (JCPOA).

The nuclear deal was concluded in 2015 between Iran and the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia and China.

Under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, the United States stepped out unilaterally in 2018.