The eight victims were allegedly apart of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, which supports Iran. Although the deaths of the militiamen have been confirmed, the identity of the aircraft has not.
According to Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack hit “arms depots in the Boukmal area”.
He added: “Unidentified aircraft targeted vehicles and arms depots in the Boukamal area, causing a large explosion.
“At least eight Iraqi Hashed fighters were killed.”
There has been no confirmation of the attack from either the Iraqi or Syrian governments.
Deir ez-Zur, is an important eastern outpost in the country and last year was taken over by Syrian Democratic Forces.
Following a two-year campaign, the pro-government forces removed ISIS from the city in March 2019.
Although no link has been established with the US military, Washington conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on five facilities on December 29.
The airstrike reportedly killed 25 people from the Popular Mobilization Units, a Tehran-backed Shiite militia.
US officials confirmed the attack was in response to numerous acts of aggression from Shia militia group, Kataib Hezbollah.
The group had previously launched a strike on a US military base near Iraq’s military base, near to the northern city of Kirkuk, killing one man.
Nawres Waleed Hamid worked as a US military contractor before being killed on December 27.
The attack from the pro-Iran group has since escalated tensions in the region, including the east of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
Following the death of the commander who led the elite Quds Force, Iran responded by firing a series of missiles at two US bases in Irbil and Al Asad, west of Baghdad.
The missiles did not cause any casualties, although Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei called it a “slap in the face” of the US.
Echoing Khamenei, the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, said the aim of the Islamic Republic was to “kick all US forces out of the region”.
In the immediate aftermath, Donald Trump has claimed Iran seemed to be “standing down” from its attacks.
Iran missile sites (Image: Express)
In an attempt to de-escalate tensions, Trump proclaimed from the White Hosue that Iran was key to achieving the goal of peace in the region.
Although he called on the Islamic Republic to stop its de-stabilising nature in the Middle East, he said the US wanted the country to have a bright future.
Trump added: “We should work together on this and other shared priorities.
“To the people and leaders of Iran, we want you to have a future, and a great future, one that you deserve, of prosperity and harmony.”
Moreover, Trump also called for NATO to take a leading role in the Middle East following the recent series of events.
He also demanded the UK, Germany, France, China, and Russia to ditch the 2015 nuclear deal.
He said: “The very defective JCPOA expires shortly anyway and gives Iran a clear and quick path to nuclear breakout.
“Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism.
“The time has come for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China to recognise this reality.
“They must now break away from the remnants of the Iran deal – or JCPOA – and we must all work together towards making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place.”
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