Syrian government says US 'blatant air aggression' killed civilians and soldiers

The Syrian Defense Ministry on Saturday condemned the U.S. retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, referring to them as "blatant air aggression.

In a statement, the Syrian army said a number of civilians and soldiers were killed in the strikes and others were wounded. There was also significant damage to public and private property, according to the Syrian government. 

"Occupying parts of Syrian lands by American forces cannot continue ... the Syrian army affirms continuing its war against terrorism until it is eliminated and is determined to liberate the entire Syrian territories from terrorism and occupation," the ministry said in a statement.

The U.S. airstrikes hit more than 85 targets across seven locations, four in Syria and three in Iraq, according to the U.S. military.

The strikes targeted the Quds Force — the foreign espionage and paramilitary arm of the IRGC that heavily influences its allied militia across the Middle East, from Lebanon to Iraq and Yemen to Syria.

U.S. Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, said the attacks appeared to be successful, triggering large secondary explosions as the bombs hit militant weaponry, though it was not clear if any militants were killed.