The US Central Command confirmed to NBC News that drone attacks on American bases in Syria and Iraq last week resulted in injuries to approximately 24 US soldiers.
While the Department of Defense acknowledged the attacks, they did not disclose the number of injured troops. This announcement followed warnings from Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Iran against targeting US forces and interests in the region.
On October 18, 20 soldiers sustained minor injuries from a double-suicide drone assault on the Al-Tanf military base in southern Syria. The US forces successfully downed one of the drones. These soldiers have since returned to duty post-treatment, and no military equipment was damaged in the attack.
On the same day, separate attacks on the US and coalition forces at the “Ain Al-Asad Air Base” in western Iraq resulted in minor injuries to four soldiers. US forces intercepted the drones, but the debris destroyed a hangar housing a small aircraft. All wounded soldiers have since resumed their duties.
A civilian US contractor also passed away from a heart attack during a shelter order at the location, though NBC News confirmed it wasn’t directly due to the attacks.
These attacks occurred amidst escalating tensions following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder revealed on Tuesday that US and coalition forces faced 10 separate attacks in Iraq and 3 in Syria, using a mix of drones and missiles.
He identified the groups behind these attacks as Iran-backed, specifically pointing to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Ryder warned of a potential larger escalation against US forces across the region, driven by Iran and its proxies. He emphasized the US’s right to defend itself and wouldn’t hesitate to act to safeguard its troops and overseas interests.
