A pair of U.S. military bases in Syria came under drone attack this week, raising concerns that Iranian-backed proxies are using the war between Israel and Hamas to attack U.S. forces.
In one strike, drones on Thursday struck the al-Tanf garrison located near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan.
One was destroyed by U.S. forces, but another caused minor injuries, two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press.
The al-Tanf base is located in an area frequently used by Iranian-backed militants to transport weapons to Hezbollah.
The terrorist group has exchanged fire with Israel across the Lebanese border several times since the start of the conflict.
A second drone attack targeted the Conoco gas field in the Deir al-Zor region of eastern Syria, which hosts US troops, according to Syrian opposition activists.
Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, confirmed that five explosions were heard at the Conoco gas field.
Omar Abu Layla, a Syrian refugee and Germany-based activist who runs the Deir Ezzor 24 news outlet, said three drones loaded with explosives targeted the facility.
The al-Tanf base, located near Syria’s border with Iraq and Jordan, was attacked by a drone on Thursday, causing minor injuries.AP Israeli soldiers and military vehicles at a camp near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah is located. The militants have exchanged fire with Israel several times since the war with Hamas began. Xinhua/Shutterstock
Iran-backed militant groups also launched several drone attacks against US forces stationed in Iraq this week.
According to US Central Command, US forces on Wednesday intercepted three drones near US and Coalition forces in western Iraq, destroying one and damaging a second, resulting in minor injuries.
In another incident in northern Iraq against the al-Harir air base, US forces attacked and destroyed a third drone, with no injuries or damage reported.
“At this time of extreme alert, we are closely monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. “We want to emphasize that U.S. forces will defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threats,” Centcom said in a statement Wednesday.
Israeli troops patrol in armored personnel carriers near Israel’s border with Lebanon after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on October 15. AFP via Getty Images
The Tashkil al-Waritheen militia claimed responsibility for the second attack, according to ABC. The group, part of the Iran-backed militia coalition known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, warned of further operations against the “American occupation.”
Ahmed Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, leader of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, also warned that there could be new attacks on US bases using rockets, drones and special forces.
According to the New York Times, Iran collaborated with Hezbollah and Hamas as early as 2022 in training the Palestinian terrorists who launched the surprise attack on Israel on October 7.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn