Last night, the US military said it has carried out air strikes on two Iranian bases in south eastern Syria, following recent attacks against its own military personnel in Syria and Iraq.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the attacks were carried out against sites "used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-affiliated groups".

In a statement, he said: "The strikes were conducted against a training facility and a safe house near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin, respectively.

"The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today's action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests."

On Wednesday, the US launched a "self-defence strike" on what it said was a weapons storage used by the IRGC and its affiliates in the Maysulun region of eastern Syria.