In a recent disclosure, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed that two dozen American military personnel were injured in drone attacks orchestrated by Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria last week.
The information was shared with NBC News, which reported that 20 United States personnel sustained minor injuries during the drone attack on the al-Tanf military base in southern Syria on October 18. Fortunately, all injured personnel were able to resume their duties, and the base did not suffer any significant damage.
In addition to the aforementioned attack, four more American military personnel were injured during two drone attacks on United States and coalition forces at the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq on the same day. All four of the injured personnel were able to return to duty. In one of these attacks, debris from an intercepted drone led to the destruction of a small aircraft hangar.
The comments made by CENTCOM to NBC marked the first public acknowledgment of casualties incurred during attacks by Iranian proxy forces since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella group for the militias, claimed it had killed several American soldiers with its attacks. However, the Pentagon refuted these claims, insisting there were no fatalities.
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder revealed on Tuesday that there were at least ten attacks against United States and coalition forces in Iraq between October 17 and 24, along with three in Syria. These attacks utilized a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets.
Ryder stated, We know that the groups conducting these attacks are supported by the IRGC and the Iranian regime, using the acronym for Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terrorist organization. He declined a request from reporters to name the Iraqi and Syrian militias that perpetrated the attacks.
Ryder warned of the potential for more significant escalation against U.S. forces and personnel across the region in the near future, originating from Iranian proxy forces and ultimately from Iran. He also accused Iranian proxy forces of attempting to destabilize Iraq and Syria and divert attention from the atrocities perpetrated by Irans client Hamas. He stated that the Biden administrations priority is to avoid escalation, but did not rule out reciprocal action against Iran and its agents.
On Tuesday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for another missile attack on the Ain al-Asad airbase, blatantly ignoring warnings from the Biden administration and the Iraqi central government. The IRI claimed its attacks directly hit their intended objectives.
An Iraqi security source revealed that the latest attack involved Grad rockets, a Soviet-designed multiple-launch rocket system that is considerably more powerful than the primitive and inaccurate Katyusha rockets used in previous militia assaults. The source claimed at least one Grad launcher was captured by Iraqi security forces after the attack.
An anonymous member of the Iraqi parliament disclosed on Tuesday that some militia leaders agreed to de-escalate during meetings with Iraqi government representatives on Sunday and Monday. However, some of the major Iran-backed groups did not even attend the meetings.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani to pursue those behind the attacks and fulfill Iraqs commitment to maintain security.
The State Department reported that Blinken also discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and Blinken conveyed his appreciation to the Prime Minister for Iraqs efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians.
A spokesman for the Iran-backed Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada militia stated in an Iraq television interview on Monday night that since Iraqs highest Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has condemned Israels actions in Gaza and called for jihad against Israel and the United States, Iraqi Shiite fighters believe attacks against Americans have been granted a religious seal of approval.
Iranian state media has enthusiastically endorsed the Iraqi and Syrian militia attacks. On Tuesday, they described the rocket and drone strikes as a justified response to Israeli war crimes, including the bombardment of residential areas, schools, mosques, and hospitals in the Gaza strip.
Irans proxy terrorist organization Hezbollah endorsed the Shiite militia attacks on social media, stating, We punish criminals like this.
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