File photo:Xinhua

Iranian-backed forces evacuated its positions in the city of al-Bukamal in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria to avoid a possible US strike as the latter carried out military training in a nearby energy field, a war monitor reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Iranian-backed and Iranian forces evacuated its positions in al-Bukamal city and deployed in orchards on the bank of the Euphrates River while leaving behind guards to protect its positions in the city.

It said the US forces sent reinforcement to the Koniko oil field, which is the closest facility to the areas where Iranian-backed fighters are located.

The US forces carried out military training in the oil field, which included artillery shelling.

These movements come against the backdrop of the US assassination of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, that took place in Iraq on Jan. 2.

Iranian officials pledged to retaliate against the killing of Soleimani, who was targeted along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, in the strike that hit their vehicle in Baghdad International Airport.

The US also warned Iran against targeting US personnel in the region.