JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<span class="a">something i need</span>

<div>x</div>

<span class="a">something i need</span>

<div>x</div>

<span class="a">something i need</span>

<div>x</div><div>x</div><div>x</div>

<span>something i need</span>

JavaScript

$('div').each( function() {
    if(!$(this).prev().hasClass('a'))
        $(this).remove();
});