Unidentified drone strike targets Iranian fuel convoy in Syria: Iraqi sources

BAGHDAD/ BEIRUT:

At least two fuel trucks were destroyed in an air strike by an unidentified drone on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq late on Tuesday, Iraqi security and border officials told Reuters.

The strike was carried out by a drone and targeted a tanker truck convoy carrying Iranian fuel that had entered Qaim border crossing into Syria, the officials said.

"No Iraqi casualties have been reported", said an Iraqi border police officer.

Huge blaze was seen on the Syrian side of the border, said a security official. The convoy included more than 20 tanker trucks.

The convoy crossed the borders into Syria after obtaining “all necessary legal approvals from Iraq” and according to the transportation documents the Iranian fuel was heading to Lebanon through Syria, said two border police officials.

The officials were unaware of any Iranian casualties.

The US military said on Wednesday it was not behind the strike, nor had any involvement.

A regional official aligned with Iran said two Syrian nationals were killed in the strike and the fuel was heading to Syria, not Lebanon.

For several years, Israel has been mounting attacks on what it has described as Iranian-linked targets in Syria.