Attacks on U.S. military sites in Syria and Iraq have increased since October, resulting in injuries to several soldiers stationed in the two Middle Eastern countries to fight the Islamic State organization. Forces in western Iraq and eastern Syria have come under fire since the onset of the war in Gaza in October.
Main Facts
– On October 17: Ain al-Assad Air Base and al-Tanf Military Base in western Iraq were targeted in a series of drone attacks, injuring 21 individuals with minor wounds, all of whom returned to active service after several days, according to the Department of Defense.
– On October 19: The Ain al-Assad base was attacked again by a drone, resulting in the death of an American contractor due to cardiac arrest while hiding in a safe location.
– On October 26: U.S. forces conducted “self-defense” strikes on two bases in eastern Syria used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its proxies in the country.
– On November 8: The Ain al-Assad and Erbil Air Bases were targeted in drone attacks, while a military vehicle was damaged by an explosive device near Mosul, according to sources.
– On November 12: U.S. forces at the al-Omar oil field and al-Shaddadi military base in northeastern Syria came under drone and rocket attacks three times, military sources confirmed to Reuters.
– On December 8: Rockets were fired near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, in an area known as the Green Zone, hitting the facility’s gate without causing significant damage or serious injuries.
– On December 25: Three American soldiers at the Erbil Air Base were injured by a drone launched by Kata’ib Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Shiite militia in Iraq, prompting U.S. forces to conduct airstrikes in retaliation against facilities used by the group.
Main Background
U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria are remnants of the larger mission that began in 2014 to combat the rise of the Islamic State in the region. The forces, numbering about 900 in Syria and around 2,500 in Iraq, remain in the two countries as a deterrent against the extremist Islamic group. U.S. forces were also stationed in Iraq from 2003 to 2011. At the height of the war in 2011, there were about 98,000 American troops stationed in the country, according to the Department of Defense. However, the remaining forces have now become targets for extremist groups in both countries backed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Attacks have increased since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, which is also allied with Iran, in October. On December 7, White House Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh estimated there had been about 78 total attacks, mainly by rockets and drones on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, resulting in 66 injuries. However, U.S. officials distance operations in Iraq and Syria from the ongoing war in Gaza. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated in October: “It is separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and does not represent a change in our approach to the conflict between Israel and Hamas,” adding, “We continue to urge all international and non-international entities not to take actions that would escalate the regional conflict further.”
Additional Information
In the Middle East, the Houthi movement in Yemen has launched a campaign of drone and missile attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis are a Shiite militia group that controls most of northern Yemen and are aligned with Iran. The campaign began to support their common ally Hamas following the start of the Israeli military operation in the region in October. The Houthi campaign has targeted ships allegedly linked to Israeli companies or owners, as well as vessels heading to major ports in Eilat and Haifa. On December 3, the U.S. Navy shot down four missiles and drones launched from Yemen. One drone was fired at the warship, but it remains unconfirmed whether it was the intended target, and there were no reported damage or injuries to the crew aboard the vessel. Last week, the United States announced Operation “Protector of Prosperity,” a coalition of nine countries aimed at being a “highway patrol” in the Red Sea and Suez Canal – a vital route for global trade. U.S. Central Command confirmed that 17 missiles and drones launched from Yemen were intercepted by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday.
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