The U.S. military urged the Iraqi government to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of American forces stationed in both Iraq and Syria. This plea comes in the wake of two foiled attacks carried out by militants aligned with Iran on Monday.
In a recent statement from the Pentagon, Major General Patrick Ryder of the U.S. Air Force expressed concerns during his remarks, as reported by Alhurra TV, stating, “These attacks endanger both coalition and Iraqi soldiers.
We call on the Iraqi government to take all necessary steps to safeguard American forces in Iraq and Syria from these groups.”
General Ryder added a stern warning that the U.S. would not hesitate to defend its forces as it has in the past if attacks continue. This statement follows the first drone and missile attack since the daily assaults peaked in January, which resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers at a military site in Jordan.
Currently, the United States has approximately 2,500 military personnel in Iraq and another 900 in Eastern Syria, tasked with advisory and assistance roles.
Furthermore, the United States recently aided Israel in intercepting a large wave of Iranian drones and missiles on April 14th. This offensive by Tehran was in retaliation to an Israeli airstrike on April 1st targeting the Iranian Embassy compound in Damascus, Syria.
