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Counterstrike: U.S. helicopters, gunships hit Iran-backed militias in Syria as conflict escalates

U.S. forces on Thursday launched a major counterstrike against Iran-backed militias in Syria, the latest blow in what’s become a rapidly escalating conflict between the two sides.

Just hours after militant groups fired rockets at two U.S. military installations in northeast Syria and wounded three American service members, U.S. Central Command said they targeted those groups with a coordinated counterattack. That attack included AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, AC-130 gunships, and M777 artillery, Pentagon officials said.

At least four militants were killed and seven rocket launchers destroyed, officials said.

“We will respond appropriately and proportionally to attacks on our servicemembers,” said Gen.