Date: Sep 17, 2019 Source: The Daily Star Strikes on Iran-backed fighters in Syria Associated Press DUBAI: Syrian opposition activists say unknown aircraft have attacked posts of Iranian-backed fighters in an eastern town near the Iraqi border. The activists said the airstrike took place early Tuesday in Albu Kamal, in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor. There was no immediate word on casualties. Last week in Syria, unknown warplanes targeted an arms depot and posts of Iranian-backed militias in Albu Kamal, killing at least 18 fighters. A Syrian security official said Israeli jets were behind the attack but denied there were casualties. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Deir Ezzor 24, an activist collective, said the strikes occurred near the border crossing with Iraq. The opening of the crossing, planned by Iraq and Syria, had been postponed several times in recent weeks. Tensions roiling the Persian Gulf have escalated following a weekend attack on major oil sites in Saudi Arabia that U.S. alleged Iran was responsible for. Iran denies the charge.