Official: 46 attacks on US forces after Israel-Hamas war
US military faced rocket and drone attacks in Syria and Iraq.
Official Statements on Recent Middle East Incidents
In a recent update, a U.S. defense official informed Fox News that there have been a total of 46 attacks on American military bases since October 17, marking a significant increase in hostilities. These attacks have occurred in the wake of Hamas’s war on Israel, which began about a week before the surge in incidents.
The U.S. defense official shed light on the nature of these attacks, clarifying that they have not resulted in any injuries or damage to infrastructure. The assailants have employed a combination of one-way drones and rockets, with four of these attacks occurring shortly after the U.S. conducted an airstrike in Syria.
The most recent of these attacks targeted U.S. and coalition forces stationed at the Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by American troops in the region. These attacks are believed to be orchestrated by groups with potential backing from Iran, and in response to one of the recent incidents in Syria, the U.S. military carried out an airstrike against a weapons facility in the country.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin provided insight into the U.S. response, stating, “Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted a self-defense strike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups.” He went on to specify that the strike was aimed at a weapons storage facility and was a precise self-defense action in response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates.
“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin added, emphasizing the importance of protecting American interests in the region.
In a separate incident, a U.S. defense official confirmed that Iranian-backed Houthi forces shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone near the Yemeni coast. The official reported, “We can confirm the downing of a U.S. military MQ-9 remotely-piloted aircraft in international airspace, over international waters along the Yemeni coastline.” U.S. Central Command officials are presently conducting an assessment of the incident.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone was reportedly conducting surveillance in Yemen when it was targeted by Houthi militants. The cost of such a drone is estimated at around $30 million. Notably, this is not the first time that Houthi fighters have successfully downed a MQ-9 Reaper, with the last occurrence taking place on June 6, 2019.
The U.S. decision to remove the Houthi group from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations in 2021 has been met with mixed reactions and remains a point of discussion in the ongoing regional conflict.
The recent attacks and the U.S. response reflect the complex and volatile situation in the Middle East, where various groups and nations are entangled in regional conflicts and disputes. The ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip have created ripple effects, impacting security in neighboring countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
This heightened tension also brings into focus the broader concerns of regional conflict, as groups like the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Al Qassem Brigades, Saraya al Quds, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Fatah are active in the region. The influence of other regional actors, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
The international community, including the United Nations, continues to monitor developments in the Middle East closely. The region has a long history of conflict and instability, and finding a path to peace and stability remains a significant challenge.
Additionally, the rise of antisemitism and concerns about the rights and safety of Palestinian Americans are issues that human rights groups and international organizations are actively engaged with. The situation in the Middle East remains a subject of global concern, and efforts to address the underlying causes of conflict and promote dialogue persist as a critical aspect of international diplomacy.
In conclusion, the recent spate of attacks on American military bases in the Middle East underscores the complexity of the region’s security landscape. The U.S. response to these attacks aims to protect American personnel and interests while navigating a delicate balance of regional dynamics. The situation remains fluid, and the international community closely watches for any further developments that could impact the broader Middle East region.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
