24 US soldiers injured in 13 attacks in Iraq, Syria within week
An aerial view of the Al-Asad Air Base in the western Iraqi governorate of Anbar. Photo: AP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The US Department of Defense revealed on Tuesday that US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria were targeted at least 13 times last week.
The US Central Command mentioned that 24 US soldiers were injured last week in drone and rocket attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria, indicating that all injuries were minor, NBC News reported.
The attacks are the first of their kind in more than a year.
With regional tension over the Israel-Hamas conflict increasing dramatically, Washington is on high alert for activities by groups backed by Iran.
Iranian-backed groups in Iraq threatened to target US interests in the region if Washington interfered in the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli occupying forces.
For the 19th day, intensive Israeli air strikes continue to target the Gaza Strip, destroying entire neighborhoods and leaving tens of thousands of civilians dead and injured.
The increasing death toll is sparking outrage across the Middle East.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a press briefing that US and coalition forces have been attacked at least 10 separate times in Iraq and three separate times in Syria between October 17 and October 24, via a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets.
The United States has about 900 soldiers in Syria and 2,500 soldiers in Iraq.
The existence of US forces in Iraq and Syria is part of the US efforts to combat ISIS, which controlled large areas in the two countries before it was defeated by local forces supported by air strikes carried out by an international coalition led by Washington.