The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced today, Friday, that they have launched a drone attack on the Ain al-Assad Air Base, which houses U.S. forces, located in Iraq’s Anbar Province. This action was declared as part of their response to the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The Islamic Resistance stated that the drone strike “directly hit its targets.”
Furthermore, the Islamic Resistance has previously targeted American bases in both Iraq and Syria with a total of 86 drone and missile strikes since the beginning of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Recent months have seen a notable increase in attacks against U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria, predominantly attributed to Iranian-backed militant groups. The surge in violence aligns with rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly following the October 7 attack by Hamas militants from Gaza against Israel. This period has witnessed numerous attacks on U.S. bases in both Iraq and Syria.
In Syria, the U.S. base at Mission Support Site Euphrates experienced a multi-rocket attack, although no casualties or significant infrastructure damage were reported. Similar attacks have targeted other U.S. bases in the region, including al-Shaddadeh, Green Village, and Euphrates, situated in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border, and Shaddadeh, further north. In Iraq, the al-Harir air base in the north underwent drone strikes, causing damage to infrastructure but no casualties.
The Pentagon has tallied a significant number of attacks on U.S. forces since mid-October, following the Hamas-initiated conflict. The frequency and scale of these attacks have varied, with some being successfully disrupted or failing to reach their targets, thus preventing casualties or infrastructure damage. However, a notable number of U.S. military personnel have suffered injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds to traumatic brain injuries. Most of the injured have since returned to duty.
In response to these attacks, the U.S. military has conducted several airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by Iran-backed militants. These strikes aim to disrupt and degrade the capabilities of groups responsible for the attacks on U.S. forces and convey a message to Iran regarding accountability for these attacks. The airstrikes have targeted locations such as a training facility near Albu Kamal and a safe house near Mayadeen. Despite these countermeasures, attacks against U.S. forces have persisted.
The situation remains complex, with the Pentagon confirming that the number of U.S. troops injured in these strikes stands at 59, including evaluations for traumatic brain injuries and other non-serious injuries. The Pentagon’s approach has been twofold: to prevent the escalation of regional conflicts and to defend U.S. forces from attacks by Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups operating in Iraq and Syria.
