AP Photo/Lolita Baldor
Twenty-four U.S. military personnel were reportedly wounded last week after two American military bases in Iraq and Syria were hit by drones.
U.S. Central Command told NBC News that 20 personnel were injured at the Syrian al-Tanf military base on Ocy. 18 after at least two drones attacked the compound, while four personnel were injured at the Iraqi al-Asad military base on the same day. Three drones were shot down during the attacks and all injured personnel were returned to duty.
The strikes occurred last week, but the extent of the damage was not reported until Tuesday.
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder suggested that the attacks were backed by Iran as tensions in the Middle East increase amid Israel’s war with Hamas.
“What we are seeing is the prospect for more significant escalation against US forces and personnel across the region in the very near term coming from Iranian proxy forces, and ultimately from Iran,” said Ryder to NBC News in a statement. “We always reserve the right to defend ourselves and we will never hesitate to take action when needed to protect our forces and our interests overseas.”
On Monday, CNN reported that the United States had received intelligence that “Iranian-backed militia groups are planning to ramp up attacks against US forces in the Middle East, as Iran seeks to capitalize on the backlash in the region to US support for Israel, according to multiple US officials.”
National Security Council coordinator John Kirby told CNN, “We know Iran’s backing these groups, we know that they’re giving them the means, the resources, the training, the encouragement, and direct contacts with the IRGC, the revolutionary guard to conduct these attacks on our troops.”
After CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked Kirby about the possibility of the U.S. going to war with Iran, Kirby said, “I think what we want to see more than anything, Wolf, is no widening of this conflict, no deepening of it, and we continue to send a strong message to actors in the region, including Iran, that if you’re thinking about jumping in here, you’re thinking about deepening and widening and escalating, don’t do it.”
He concluded, “We will take our national security interests very, very seriously in the region, and we’ve added to the military capabilities to make sure that we can do that.”
