Drones attack two US military bases in Syria
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A pair of US military bases in Syria were attacked by drones this week, raising concerns that Iran-backed proxies are using the Israel-Hamas war to strike at American forces.
In one attack, drones struck the al-Tanf garrison located near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan on Thursday.
One was destroyed by US forces but another caused minor injuries, two US officials speaking on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press.
The al-Tanf base is located in an area frequently used by Iran-backed militants to shuttle weapons to Hezbollah.
The terror group has exchanged fire with Israel across the Lebanon border several times since the start of the conflict.
A second drone attack targeted the Conoco gas field in the Deir al-Zor region in eastern Syria that houses American 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 activist based in Germany who helms the Deir Ezzor 24 news outlet, said three drones loaded with explosives targeted the facility.
Iran-backed militant groups also launched several drone strikes against US forces stationed in Iraq this week.
According to US Central Command, US forces intercepted three drones near US and Coalition forces in western Iraq on Wednesday, destroying one and damaging a second, resulting in minor injuries.
In a separate incident in northern Iraq targeting the al-Harir airbase, US forces engaged and destroyed a third drone, with no injuries or damage reported.
“In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. We want to emphasize US forces will defend US and Coalition forces against any threat,” Centcom said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Tashkil al-Waritheen militia claimed responsibility for the second attack, according to ABC. The group, part of the Iran-backed coalition of militias known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, warned of more operations against the “American occupation.”
Ahmed Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, leader of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, also issued a warning that there could be further strikes against US bases using rockets, drones and special forces.
According to the New York Times, Iran collaborated with Hezbollah and Hamas as far back as 2022 in training the Palestinian terrorists that launched the surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
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