Iranian Fuel Convoy Attacked on Syria-Iraq Border

Facts

• An unidentified drone strike was reportedly conducted on an Iranian fuel convoy on Tuesday on the Syrian side of the Syria-Iraq border. Iraqi officials claimed that the convoy consisted of more than 20 tanker trucks, of which at least two were destroyed after entering the Qaim border crossing into Syria.
• According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 15 people were killed in the strike — most of them belonging to Iranian-backed militias. Iranian media outlets claimed that the fuel was destined for Lebanon, but Syrian opposition media reported that targeted trucks also contained weapons.
• It wasn't immediately clear who was behind the strikes, with Iran's state television accusing the US without offering any evidence. Israel and the US have targeted the area in the past, but the US military denied responsibility, and the Israeli army refused to comment.
• Though Israel generally doesn't comment on its military actions in Syria, it has confirmed that it has carried out hundreds of strikes in the country — targeting both government positions and Iran-backed forces since the onset of the Syrian civil war.
• Tit-for-tat attacks have been going on in recent years in Syria's eastern province of Deir Ezzor as Iranian-backed militias strengthen their presence, while both Israel and the US conduct military operations.
• Iran has sent thousands of fighters to help Syrian troops during the country's decade-long civil war, backing President Bashar al-Assad. Both Tehran and Damascus are also allied with Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which denied involvement with the convoy.

Sources: Reuters, i24, Washington Post, Naharnet, Al-Monitor, and ABC.

Narratives

• Anti-Iran narrative, as provided by Times of Israel. Israel has been quite clear that it will not permit Iran to freely move weapons and fighters through Syria if it threatens Israeli security. If endangered, Israel will target Iranian assets in all of the countries into which Iran has dug its tentacles. Iran will continue to see strikes like this one if its aggression continues
• Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by Press TV. As Iran tries to provide much-needed fuel to crisis-stricken Lebanon, the US shamelessly attacks its convoys. The Lebanese people are living in absolute desperation as oil prices continue to rise in a country suffering under extreme economic conditions. Unfortunately for Lebanon, US hegemony will never allow one of its geopolitical adversaries to provide aid to suffering civilians.