Another attack against US troops in Syria occurred on Thursday.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin told reporters, who accompanied him on a trip to India, that if the attacks on American troops did not stop, the United States would take additional measures. “We will do everything we can to protect our troops and we take that absolutely seriously,” Austin said.
Reuters writes that Thursday’s attacks on American troops in Iraq and Syria were the most massive attacks since the beginning of the military conflict between Hamas (recognized as a terrorist organization in the United States) and Israel.
On Thursday morning, a convoy of coalition troops, including US troops, was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) near the Mosul Dam in Iraq, but there were no casualties.
The patrol was accompanied by Iraqi counterterrorism forces and one patrol vehicle was damaged, two Reuters sources said.
Also on Thursday morning, a one-way communications drone was launched from Ain al-Assad air base, west of Baghdad, targeting US and coalition forces. According to the Pentagon, this drone was shot down before reaching its target, there were no casualties or destruction of infrastructure.
Another unknown drone flew towards the Al-Harir air base in Erbil, Iraq, where US and international security forces are stationed, but was shot down before reaching its target, Iraqi security sources told Reuters.
Since October 7, US and international coalition troops have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria.
As a result of these attacks, according to the Pentagon, a total of 56 US soldiers suffered brain injuries or minor injuries, but all of them have now returned to duty.
The United States blames the attacks on Iranian-backed groups and believes Tehran is ultimately responsible.
Iranian-backed militants in Iraq have publicly stated that U.S. targets will be attacked as long as the United States supports Israel in its war against Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, in the Gaza Strip.
The White House said Thursday that the U.S. military carried out strikes against targets in Syria to destroy weapons depots and deter Iranian-backed separatist groups from attacking U.S. personnel in the region.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin also briefed reporters on the attacks.
“Today, at the direction of President Biden, US forces conducted a self-defense attack against a facility in Syria used by the IRGC and associated groups. “We carried out these strikes in response to a series of attacks against American personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed proxy groups,” Austin said.
He stressed that “there is no higher priority than the safety of American personnel, and today’s actions are intended to send a message that the United States will protect itself, its personnel and its interests.”
“We remain fully prepared to take further steps necessary to protect our people and our facilities, and we urge that no escalation be allowed,” the Pentagon chief said.
