Two military facilities occupied by US forces in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah have come under separate attacks by explosive-laden drones, the latest in a series of strikes on American forces in the two neighboring countries.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel claimed responsibility for the early Friday morning attack on US forces based near the Erbil International Airport.
It noted that the base was targeted by two drones, linking the assault to the US support for Israel’s bloody military campaign against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The brutal war that the Tel Aviv regime has been waging against the besieged Palestinian enclave since October 7 has so far claimed the lives of nearly 9,061 people, including 3,700 children and more than 2,300 women.
The regime launched the war after Gaza’s resistance groups conducted Operation al-Aqsa Storm, their biggest operation against the occupying entity in years.
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder confirmed during a press briefing that American troops were targeted in Erbil.
“We are aware of an attack today against US forces at Erbil air base in Iraq,” he said, adding that the strike was “unsuccessful.”
“No casualties [but] some minor damage to infrastructure,” Ryder noted.
Later in the day, a military base, where occupying American forces and allied Takfiri militants are stationed, was targeted by an unmanned aerial vehicle in northeastern Syria.
Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing local sources, reported that the drone hit the facility in al-Shaddadi town, located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Hasakah.
According to the Pentagon spokesman, US military forces have been attacked at least 16 times with drones and rockets in Iraq and Syria between October 17 and 26.
“Between October 17 and 18, Eastern Time, 21 US personnel received minor injuries due to drone attacks at al-Asad air base in Iraq and al-Tanf garrison in Syria,” Ryder said.
“At Tanf garrison, during these two days, there were 17 US personnel who sustained minor injuries, 15 of whom were diagnosed with TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury. At al-Asad air base, four personnel were diagnosed with TBI but no other injured and again in all cases members returned to duty,” he noted.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to pursue the attackers of US bases and troops in Iraq, according to the State Department.
