Iran-aligned militias in Iraq announced on Monday that they targeted a U.S. base in Southern Al-Hasakah, Syria, with missiles. The statement from the Iraqi factions explained that this was a response to “the crimes committed by the enemy against our people in Gaza,” specifically targeting the U.S. base in Al-Shaddadi, south of Al-Hasakah city, with a significant barrage of missiles. The statement confirmed a direct hit on the American base.
Additionally, the factions in Iraq have attacked Iraqi and Syrian military bases hosting U.S. forces, as well as Eilat in Israel, in retaliation for Israeli military operations against Gaza since October 7. In response, U.S. forces killed more than ten members of these groups in Iraq and injured others in attacks on Abu Ghraib and Jurf Al Nasr in west and southwest Baghdad.
Recent reports indicate a significant escalation in attacks against U.S. military facilities in Iraq and Syria, primarily attributed to Iran-backed militias. The Pentagon has recorded a total of 78 attacks, including five since November 29, the last day of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. These attacks occurred more frequently between October 17 and November 22, with daily occurrences during this period. There have been 66 total injuries among U.S. forces, although specific details regarding the nature of these injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, have not been fully disclosed.
In Iraq, the situation has compelled Baghdad to navigate a challenging balance, especially with Iran’s considerable influence in the country. There have been at least 91 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, as claimed by an umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militants known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. These attacks are seen as a retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel and its military presence in the region. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has condemned these attacks and U.S. counter-strikes as violations of Iraq’s sovereignty and has ordered authorities to pursue militants involved in these attacks.
In Syria, U.S. forces have been subjected to several attacks, including four separate incidents within hours. As of the latest reporting, there have been 36 attacks in Iraq and 37 in Syria. Security analysts express growing concern that the Israel-Hamas conflict could expand throughout the Middle East, turning U.S. troops at isolated bases into targets. The United States maintains a military presence of 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq, with the mission of advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State
