Mystery airstrikes launched on Iranian militias in Syria

Iranian militias in eastern Syria have been targeted in airstrikes by unknown warplanes, media reported on Tuesday.

Tehran-linked positions in the eastern Syrian town of Albukamal, Deir az-Zour province, were targeted in the strikes, according to The Jerusalem Post, any area known for its heavy Iranian military presence.

Although it is not known who was responsible for the bombing, Israel is thought to be behind hundreds of strikes on Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and militia positions in Syria.

The US also launched a wave of strikes on Iranian-linked fighters in Syria and Iraq last month.

Tensions are running following the US assassination of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, a killing that threatened war between the two countries and would likely have spilled out into Syria.

Iran has been a key supporter of Bashar Al-Assad in the war and poured in thousands of Shia fighters to back the regime with militia units under the command of Soleimani.

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Tehran has built-up bases and supply routes in Syria, which have been a regular target of Israeli aircraft.

The border town of Albukamal has been a key supply route for the Iranian militias which dominate the area, monitors have said.

Israel is concerned that high-tech weaponry could be shipped to Hezbollah in Lebanon via this supply route.

The Syria war broke out in 2011 when Assad forces crushed peaceful protests demanding reform.

Since then, 500,000 people have lost their lives, mostly civilians killed by regime and Russian bombing.