WASHINGTON, November 9. /TASS/. The US Air Force delivered a strike on a facility in Syria, reportedly used by the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

"Today, at President Biden's direction, US military forces conducted a self-defense strike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups," he said.

According to the statement, the strike was conducted by two F-15 fighter jets of the United States and targeted a weapons storage facility. It came as "a response to a series of attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria."

In his words, Biden directed the action "to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests."

"The United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities," Austin said, adding that the US authorities "urge against any escalation."

He pledged that the US armed forces "will continue to conduct counter-ISIS [Islamic State terrorist group, outlawed in Russia] missions in Iraq and Syria."

According to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul, US facilities in Iraq and Syria have been attacked 41 times since October 17, by armed groups supported by Iran.