1 year ago
The American military thwarted two separate drone strikes in Syria, hours after U.S. forces shot down three unmanned aerial systems targeting troops in Iraq early Wednesday, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the incidents.
U.S. forces intercepted a number of UAVs headed toward their positions at two separate bases: Al Tanf in the south and Conoco in the northern Deir al-Zor region, according to the U.S. official, who like others interviewed for this story was granted anonymity to speak ahead of a public announcement. The official declined to say how many drones were involved.
The attempted attack was part of a spate of incidents over the last 48 hours in which drones have targeted U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon has 2,500 troops in Iraq dedicated to supporting Iraqi forces, and 900 in Syria focused on combatting Islamic State terrorists with the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Early Wednesday, U.S. forces shot down three drones, two in western Iraq near Al Asad air base, and one in northern Iraq near Erbil, U.S. Central Command said. Troops from the multinational coalition to defeat ISIS suffered minor injuries while running from the attack, a second U.S. official said.
U.S. officials have been concerned about exactly such attacks amid the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza. Officials warned that Iran and other countries hostile to the U.S. could seek to take advantage of the instability in the region.
“In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. U.S. forces will defend U.S. and Coalition forces against any threat,” Centcom said in a statement.
English (US)