The US military conducted what it says was a self-defense strike in Syria’s Deir Ezzor, US officials said Tuesday, but would not elaborate on the target.Washington has so far distanced itself from the offensive launched against Syrian government-held areas of the country.For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page.The US has urged for de-escalation and said “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” a designated terrorist organization, was leading the offensive.Around 900 US forces are currently deployed to Syria to support a coalition to defeat ISIS. But Iran-backed militias have repeatedly targeted or tried to attack US troops in the area, which has led to US strikes in response.US officials said the overnight strike was not related to the current clashes between opposition fighters and the Syrian government.Last month, the US military said it attacked targets linked to Iran-backed militias in Deir Ezzor.Read more: Armed opposition forces battle Syria troops near