Syria Strongly Slams 'Cowardly' US Airstrike, Warns Such Move Will Escalate Tensions

"Syria condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly US aggression on areas in Deir Ez-Zor near the Syrian-Iraqi border, which is inconsistent with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Syria warns that it [this move] will lead to consequences that will escalate the situation in the region," the ministry said, as cited by state-run news agency SANA.

"Syria calls on the United States to change its aggressive approach toward the country, stop providing support in any forms to terrorist organizations, which target Syria and its people, and suspend investing them," the ministry added.

Late on Thursday, the US carried out airstrikes against facilities used by Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria in response to the February 15 rocket attack on the US troops in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iranian state media reported on Friday that 17 people were killed in the bombing. However, Iraqi lawmaker Kataa al-Rikabi then said that no one was injured, as the strike hit a warehouse. 

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the US airstrikes on Syria, adding that the Pentagon had informed the Russian military just a few minutes before the attacks were carried out. Lavrov also stressed that the US strikes could not be analysed without considering the "fact that the US are present on Syrian territory illegally, in violation of all norms of international law, including Security Council Resolutions on reconciliation in the Syrian Arab Republic."