Pentagon "hit 9 Iran-linked targets in Syria"

The U.S. Department of Defense says it has hit nine Iranian-linked targets in Syria.

The U.S. Central Command in the Middle East said in a statement that it had struck nine targets in both regions in response to U.S. attacks in Syria in the past 24 hours.

The Central Command said the attack would reduce the ability of Iranian-backed groups to plan and execute attacks on U.S. and coalition forces.