A drone strike targeted a United States base in eastern Syria, resulting in the death of several fighters from Kurdish-led forces, as reported by the United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Monday. The attack comes after US strikes on targets in Iraq and Syria over the weekend, with Iran-aligned armed groups claiming to have also targeted US bases in Syria, western, and northern Iraq, amid escalating tensions with Washington.
The SOHR stated that this attack was a response by Iranian militias to recent American airstrikes on militia positions. It also noted that there have been a total of 108 attacks on bases of the US-led Combined Joint Task Force in Syria since October 19. The US-led coalition was formed in 2014 to combat ISIL (ISIS).
In response to the attack, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported the death of six fighters due to the drone strike on their training academy in the Al Omar oilfield.
The ongoing series of strikes reflects the increasing risk posed by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which could lead to a broader regional conflict in the Middle East.
The situation escalated late last month when a drone attack on a US base in Jordan resulted in the death of three soldiers and the injury of over 40. The US attributed the attack to Iran-backed forces and vowed retaliation, which materialized during the weekend with strikes on Tehran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as 36 Houthi targets in Yemen by US and UK forces.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that its forces engaged in self-defense strikes against Houthi forces. This prompted concerns of further escalation, with US military officials acknowledging plans for additional military action.
While stating that it does not seek a war with Iran, the US government confirmed that more steps will be taken in response to the recent events. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized that Friday’s strikes were just the beginning of the US response, hinting at more actions to come.
Meanwhile, Iran declared that it will not hesitate to retaliate if directly attacked by the US, asserting its commitment to defending its security and sovereignty. However, it emphasized its preference for avoiding tensions and crises in the region.
Despite being affiliated with groups at odds with the US, Iran has thus far avoided direct involvement in the Gaza conflict. The Iran-backed Houthis, who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, issued a statement asserting that the US and UK strikes would not deter them and warned of retaliation and punishment for the attacks.
