<p>The US Defense Department said Monday that one member of a pro-Iran militia was killed and two were injured in last week's bombing of a border station inside Syria.</p>.<p>Pentagon spokesman John Kirby made no mention of possible civilian casualties, but said than nine buildings were destroyed in the pinpoint strike on the outpost near Albu Kamal.</p>.<p>The US military said was used by Iran-supported Iraqi armed groups.</p>.<p>"We believe right now there was likely one militia member killed and two militia members wounded," Kirby said.</p>.<p>"We'll continue to assess ... and if that changes we will certainly let you know," he added.</p>.<p>Shortly after the early Friday attack, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 22 fighters from Iraq's state-sponsored Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force were killed.</p>.<p>The strike was in retaliation for three recent missile attacks on installations used by US and coalition forces in Iraq.</p>.<p>Those were believed launched by Iran-backed militias that operate under the umbrella of Hashed al-Shaabi.</p>.<p>It was the first military strike by the administration of Joe Biden in the region and came as Biden seeks to resume negotiations with Tehran over limiting its nuclear program.</p>.<p>Biden was "sending an unambiguous message that he's going to act to protect Americans," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Friday.</p>.<p>Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said they were confident the target was being used by "the same Shia militia that conducted the strikes" in Iraq against US-used facilities.</p>.<p>The administration has stressed that the action was meant as a warning and to avoid further escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington.</p>.<p>"This was really designed to do two things: to remove that compound from their utilization of it as an entry control point from Syria into Iraq," Kirby said.</p>.<p>"And, two, to send a very strong signal that we're not going to tolerate attacks on our people and our Iraqi partners."</p>
<p>The US Defense Department said Monday that one member of a pro-Iran militia was killed and two were injured in last week's bombing of a border station inside Syria.</p>.<p>Pentagon spokesman John Kirby made no mention of possible civilian casualties, but said than nine buildings were destroyed in the pinpoint strike on the outpost near Albu Kamal.</p>.<p>The US military said was used by Iran-supported Iraqi armed groups.</p>.<p>"We believe right now there was likely one militia member killed and two militia members wounded," Kirby said.</p>.<p>"We'll continue to assess ... and if that changes we will certainly let you know," he added.</p>.<p>Shortly after the early Friday attack, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 22 fighters from Iraq's state-sponsored Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force were killed.</p>.<p>The strike was in retaliation for three recent missile attacks on installations used by US and coalition forces in Iraq.</p>.<p>Those were believed launched by Iran-backed militias that operate under the umbrella of Hashed al-Shaabi.</p>.<p>It was the first military strike by the administration of Joe Biden in the region and came as Biden seeks to resume negotiations with Tehran over limiting its nuclear program.</p>.<p>Biden was "sending an unambiguous message that he's going to act to protect Americans," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Friday.</p>.<p>Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said they were confident the target was being used by "the same Shia militia that conducted the strikes" in Iraq against US-used facilities.</p>.<p>The administration has stressed that the action was meant as a warning and to avoid further escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington.</p>.<p>"This was really designed to do two things: to remove that compound from their utilization of it as an entry control point from Syria into Iraq," Kirby said.</p>.<p>"And, two, to send a very strong signal that we're not going to tolerate attacks on our people and our Iraqi partners."</p>