The U.S. military on Thursday hit several targets in the Syrian city of Mayadin in parts of Deir al Zor province under government control, in the third day of skirmishes with Iran-backed groups, local military sources said.
They said at least three members of an Iran-aligned militia were killed when they were targeted by a U.S. helicopter as they were about to prepare a rocket launcher in the town which lies along the western bank of the Euphrates River.
Iranian militias have a strong presence in the town and have long targeted the nearby Al Omar oil field on the eastern bank of the Euphrates where the U.S. coalition have their biggest base in Syria.
The base also known as Green Village was last night targeted in a second consecutive day of violence between the U.S. military and Iran-backed militants.