WASHINGTON (AP) — When an Iranian drone struck a U.S. base in northeastern Syria, killing a contractor and wounding a number of U.S. troops, it was simply the most recent in a rising variety of assaults on American forces in Syria. However its lethality was uncommon. In most up-to-date circumstances, no U.S. forces have been harm in such assaults.
The strike on Thursday — by a small, suicide drone — set off a sequence of retaliatory bombings, and the highest U.S. commander for the Center East, Gen. Erik Kurilla, rapidly warned that the U.S. was ready to launch extra assaults if wanted.
American troops have been in Syria since 2015, however the newest casualties spotlight what has been a constant, however usually quiet, U.S. counterterrorism mission, geared toward countering Iranian-backed militias and stopping the resurgence of the Islamic State group.
A have a look at the U.S. troop presence in Syria.
IT ALL BEGAN WITH THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP
On any given day there are a minimum of 900 U.S. forces in Syria, together with an undisclosed variety of contractors. U.S. particular operations forces additionally transfer in and in another country, however are often in small groups and will not be included within the official depend.
They’re attempting to stop any comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept by Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking management of enormous swaths of territory.
For years, the U.S. and its coalition allies battled IS in Iraq and Syria, partnering with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. By 2019, the U.S. declared the Islamic State caliphate destroyed, however remnants of the group stay a risk, together with about 10,000 fighters held in detention services in Syria and tens of hundreds of their members of the family dwelling in refugee camps.
U.S. forces advise and help the SDF, together with in securing the detention services, they usually additionally conduct counterterror missions towards the Islamic State group and different al-Qaida-affiliated militants, and perform strikes on Iran-backed militias which have attacked U.S. services.
Russia, an ally of the Syrian authorities, can also be energetic within the nation, however Washington and Moscow have used a deconfliction cellphone line in an effort to keep away from battle there.
IRAN IS ANOTHER REASON THE U.S. REMAINS IN SYRIA
Tehran’s political affect and militia power all through the area have created a safety concern for the U.S. For the reason that defeat of the Islamic State group, Iran-backed fighters have expanded their affect within the area.
The presence of American forces in Syria makes it tougher for Iran to maneuver weapons into Lebanon, to be used by its proxies, together with the Lebanese Hezbollah, towards Israel.
For instance, the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria is situated on an important highway that may hyperlink Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the best way to southern Lebanon — and Israel’s doorstep. So troops on the U.S. garrison can disrupt what could possibly be an uncontested land bridge for Iran to the japanese Mediterranean.
The oil-rich Deir el-Zour province in japanese Syria, the place among the newest U.S. strikes hit, sits alongside that strategic route. Syrian authorities forces and allied Iran-backed teams are deployed on the west financial institution of the Euphrates River in Deir el-Zour, whereas American troops assist their allies, the SDF, largely alongside the east financial institution.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LATEST ATTACK?
A small suicide — typically referred to as a kamikazi — drone flew low over fencing into the bottom and struck a upkeep facility the place U.S. troops and contractors had been working. It didn’t hearth a weapon, however exploded when it hit.
One American contractor was killed, and 5 U.S. service members and one other contractor had been wounded. One service member returned to obligation and the opposite wounded taken out of Syria for medical therapy. Contractors usually are used to assist with upkeep and logistical assist.
U.S. officers blame Iran, pointing to remnants of the drone, a number of intelligence risk streams and the truth that the assault was so just like earlier ones by the militants. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity to debate army operations.
In retaliation, U.S. F-15 fighter jets from al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck areas close to Deir el-Zour, concentrating on the Iran-backed militias believed chargeable for the assault. The variety of reported casualties diversified, and the U.S. wouldn’t affirm any numbers.
In an obvious response to these U.S. airstrikes, 10 rockets had been fired Friday at a U.S. base generally known as Inexperienced Village. Nobody was injured. Air Pressure Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, mentioned the rockets had been fired by teams affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, however he stopped wanting blaming Tehran for the U.S. deaths and accidents.
AREN’T U.S. TROOPS PROTECTED?
The U.S. maintains safety in any respect of its bases however steadfastly declines to offer a lot element. Reporters touring in Syria, together with from The Related Press, have incessantly seen a variety of safety measures, starting from fencing and different barricades to extra high-tech radars and different sensors.
Requested about data that one of many radars on the base was not working, Ryder mentioned there was not a complete hole in radar capabilities: “There was a whole sight image when it comes to radar.”
However Iranian drones characterize a severe — and increasing — risk in Syria. Kurilla advised Congress that Tehran is constructing more and more subtle drones, and now has an arsenal that ranges from small, short-range techniques “to long-range one-way assault platforms.”
Iran has additionally offered drones to Russia to be used in its ongoing struggle in Ukraine.
PREVIOUS SKIRMISHES
One of many deadliest flare-ups between the U.S. and Iran-backed teams occurred in December 2019, when U.S. army strikes in Iraq and Syria killed 25 fighters and wounded others from the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah Iraqi militia. The U.S. mentioned the strike was in retaliation for the killing of an American contractor in a rocket assault on an Iraqi army base that it blamed on the group.
In August 2022, the U.S. carried out strikes concentrating on Iran-backed militias in Deir el-Zour province. The Pentagon mentioned the assaults had been meant to ship a message to Iran, which the U.S. blamed for a lot of drone assaults, together with one which focused the al-Tanf garrison. That base was additionally hit in January, when three suicide drones struck, wounding two Syrian opposition fighters. The U.S. once more mentioned Iran-backed teams had been accountable.
Israel has additionally struck Iranian targets in japanese Syria, though it hardly ever claims duty. In November 2022, airstrikes focused tanker vehicles that crossed from Iraq into japanese Syria. The convoy was reportedly carrying gasoline and weapons to militias in Deir el-Zour. The U.S. denied involvement, and an Israeli army official later strongly advised that Israel was behind the strike.
Related Press writers Bassem Mroue, Kareem Chehayeb and Abby Sewell in Beirut and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.
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