US forces attacked 52 times in Syria and Iraq: Pentagon official

Since Oct. 17, US forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 52 times, a Pentagon official told Kurdistan 24.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2023/11/13 17:22

Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Special Operations and the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, take part in heavy-weaponry military exercises in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, March 25, 2022. (Photo: Delil Souleiman)

Middle East US forces Iraq Syria Pentagon

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A Pentagon official told Kurdistan 24 on Monday on the basis of anonymity that US and Coalition forces have been attacked at least 52 times between Oct. 17-Nov. 13, including 24 in Iraq, and 28 in Syria.

“On the morning of Nov. 13, multiple one-way drones were launched against US and Coalition forces at Rumalyn Landing Zone, Syria. One drone was shot down. The other impacted RLZ [American base near Hasaka]. No casualties and minor damage to Infrastructure,” the official said.

Moreover, the official added that on Nov. 12, one-way drone attacks were launched against US and Coalition forces in Syria at both Al-Shadaddi and Support Site Green Village, in Deir ez-Zor. In both cases, “[t]he drone was shot down prior to reaching its target. No casualties or damage to infrastructure.”

Moreover, the official also confirmed that on the evening of Nov. 12, a multi-rocket attack was launched against US and Coalition forces at Mission Support Site Euphrates, Syria. “No casualties or damage to infrastructure.” the official added.

So far, the US has retaliated three times, on Oct. 26, Oct. 8, Oct. 13 in Deir ez-Zor in Syria, targeting facilities run by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-backed armed groups.

The US so far has not retaliated against Iran-backed groups inside Iraq, although most of the attacks have been claimed by Iran-backed groups in Iraq in revenge for US support for Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In a recent Nov. 10 report, the International Crisis Group (ICG) wrote “Despite the succession of strikes and counterstrikes, neither side – the U.S. and Israel, on one hand, and Iran and the groups it supports, on the other – appears to want a major regional escalation. But as the war in Gaza goes on, the risk of exactly that will continue to increase.”

The Washington Institute's Militia Monitor has so far tracked 66 attacks on US bases in both Iraq and Syria since Oct. 18.