U.S. targets in Syria and Iraq attacked at least 23 times in past two weeks, defense official says

U.S. military vehicles at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, in 2020.John Davison / Reuters file

Since October 17, U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria have come under attack on at least 23 occasions, according to a senior U.S. defense official. These attacks, primarily involving rockets and drones, targeted U.S. interests in Iraq and Syria, with 14 incidents occurring in Iraq and nine at U.S. bases in Syria. The official did not report any U.S. casualties resulting from these attacks.

Notably, four of these attacks took place following U.S. retaliatory strikes on two Iranian-linked targets in Syria on Thursday. A senior U.S. military official revealed that the U.S. strikes targeted a weapons storage area and an ammunition storage area, employing precision munitions delivered by two F-16s. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from these strikes.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin clarified that the U.S. actions on Thursday were distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He emphasized that these actions did not signify a shift in the U.S. approach to the broader conflict.

Before launching these retaliatory measures, U.S. and coalition forces had already faced 19 attacks in Iraq and Syria, as per defense officials. On October 18, two separate drone attacks targeted the al-Tanf military base in southern Syria, while another two drone attacks struck U.S. and coalition forces stationed at the al-Asad base in western Iraq. During the latter attacks, one American civilian contractor suffered a heart attack while taking shelter, and 21 U.S. personnel sustained minor injuries, including 19 with traumatic brain injuries. All injured individuals have since returned to their duties.

Additionally, a defense official reported another attack in Iraq, where U.S. forces successfully intercepted a one-way drone a few kilometers away from the Asad base.

It is important to note that the U.S. defines these attacks as attempted strikes on U.S. facilities, and not all of these attempts reach their intended U.S. targets.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, noted that the groups behind these attacks receive support from Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He reiterated the U.S. commitment to defending its forces and interests abroad when necessary and emphasized the readiness to take action to protect them.