Sources report that the US forces have evacuated the “Hemus” base in the countryside of Qamishli, north of Hasakah in northeastern Syria.
The Syrian newspaper “Al-Watan” in its Thursday edition quoted sources saying the evacuation came after the base was repeatedly targeted by resistance factions in Iraq.
According to the newspaper, “The Hemus base is vital for American forces, as it is located just 4 kilometers west of Qamishli Airport, and it’s one of the bases where recently their leadership increased the number of its personnel to about 350.
Since mid-October 2023, US bases in Iraq and Syria have faced a significant increase in attacks, totaling over 100 incidents. This includes 47 attacks in Iraq and 55 in Syria, involving various methods such as one-way attack drones, rockets, mortars, and close-range ballistic missiles. The majority of these attacks were either intercepted or did not reach the bases, thanks to US defenses. However, a small number of successful attacks resulted in 66 injuries to US troops, mostly non-serious, including several cases of traumatic brain injuries. All injured personnel have since returned to duty.
The surge in attacks coincided with the conflict between Israel and Hamas, although Pentagon officials have not directly linked these attacks to US support for Israel. Instead, they point to Iranian-backed groups as the main perpetrators. These groups have intensified their efforts to force the withdrawal of US military presence from the region. In response to these ongoing threats, the US has conducted targeted strikes on facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups in Syria and has taken immediate action in Iraq, including air strikes against perpetrators following attacks.
The Pentagon, along with the White House National Security Council, has expressed deep concern over the potential escalation of these attacks. To counter this threat, the U.S. has enhanced its military position in the Middle East, deploying additional missiles and defense systems to the region and moving the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to Central Command’s area of responsibility.
