U.S. forces on Monday conducted nine strikes on Iranian proxy targets in Syria, a response to recent attacks on American personnel in the region, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The strikes, which took place at two separate locations, were in reaction to “several attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria over the last 24 hours,” according to Centcom, which oversees Washington’s forces and military assets in the Middle East region. “These strikes will degrade the Iranian-backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations,” the statement notes. And Centcom Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said the strikes send a clear message that attacks against U.S. and coalition partners in the region “will not be tolerated.” Iranian-backed groups and other militant organizations have increased attacks on U.S. troops in the region since the Israel-Hamas war began in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.   In August, eight American service members were treated for traumatic brain injury and smoke inhalation after a drone attack in Syria that officials believe was carried out by an Iranian-backed militia. American forces, in turn, have sought to counter such groups. Since Aug. 29, Centcom carried out more than 95 Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS) operations - some of which included strikes in Syria - that killed 163 terrorists and led to the capture of 33, the command said last week. About 900 U.S. forces are operating in Syria, though the U.S. military has bolstered its forces in the region.