American service members stationed in the Middle East have suffered at least 27 attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups since October 17, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.
Since US fighter jets launched two counter-airstrikes against locations in eastern Syria on October 26, there have been at least six additional “small-scale attacks” in the region.
“In some cases, they just didn’t attack anything,” Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. General Patrick Ryder told reporters during a briefing.
“To my knowledge [there were] no injuries, no damaged infrastructure,” the spokesman added of the latest attack.
In total, there have been 16 attacks in Iraq and 11 in Syria, since Oct. 17, per Ryder.
Attacks on American troops have taken the form of rocket and drone attacks.
Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the Pentagon will keep the public updated if additional attacks occur.AP
The Pentagon has confirmed that about two dozen service members suffered minor injuries and at least one contractor died after suffering a heart attack while seeking cover from the attack.
Except for two airstrikes last week, the Biden administration has responded with a series of verbal warnings against Tehran.
When Vice President Kamala Harris was asked in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview, “What is the message to Iran?”, she told reporter Bill Whitaker: “Don’t.”
Iranian proxies continue to target US military stations in the Middle East. Map of US bases that have been attacked.
“As President Biden said, just, ‘Don’t’?” Whitaker followed up in an interview that aired Sunday night.
“Right,” replied Harris. “One word. Simple enough.”
On Tuesday, Ryder promised that the military would “do what we have to do to protect our troops.”
Except for two airstrikes last week, the Biden administration has responded with a series of verbal warnings against Tehran..President of Iran/AFP via Getty Images
Yet sporadic attacks on US troops continue from Iran-backed groups such as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Targeted outposts include al-Tanf garrison in southern Syria, Ain al-Asad air base west of Baghdad, and al-Harir air base near Erbil in northern Iraq.
Currently, the US has about 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq.
US military military vehicles are seen at al-Asad airbase.REUTERS
An additional 300 troops will be sent to the Middle East soon, Ryder announced Tuesday.
“These additional troops will provide the capability and disposal of explosive weapons, communications and other support enablers for forces already in the region,” he said, confirming that they would not go to Israel.
“It is intended to support regional deterrence efforts and further enhance US force protection capabilities.”
Photo taken on October 19 shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) defeating a coalition of Houthi missiles in the Red Sea. US NAVY/AFP via Getty Images
The spate of attacks on US assets in the region has followed the deadly October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel that prompted the Jewish state to declare war for the first time in 50 years.
The Biden administration has sent the aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower with their elite strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean as the war progresses.
The Hamas attack killed more than 1,400 people, including at least 33 Americans.
President Biden has warned Iran not to escalate the conflict in the region.REUTERS
The jihadist group is also believed to be holding more than 200 hostages, including a small number of Americans.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
