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When an Iranian drone struck a U.S. base in northeastern Syria, killing a contractor and wounding a number of U.S. troops, it was simply the newest in a rising variety of assaults on American forces in Syria. However its lethality was uncommon. In most up-to-date instances, no U.S. forces have been damage in such assaults.
The strike on Thursday — by a small, suicide drone — set off a sequence of retaliatory bombings, and the highest U.S. commander for the Center East, Gen. Erik Kurilla, rapidly warned that the U.S. was ready to launch extra assaults if wanted.
American troops have been in Syria since 2015, however the newest casualties spotlight what has been a constant, however typically quiet, U.S. counterterrorism mission, aimed toward countering Iranian-backed militias and stopping the resurgence of the Islamic State group.
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A have a look at the U.S. troop presence in Syria.
IT ALL BEGAN WITH THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP
On any given day there are no less than 900 U.S. forces in Syria, together with an undisclosed variety of contractors. U.S. particular operations forces additionally transfer in and overseas, however are normally in small groups and are usually not included within the official depend.
They’re attempting to stop any comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept by way of Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking management of enormous swaths of territory.
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For years, the U.S. and its coalition allies battled IS in Iraq and Syria, partnering with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. By 2019, the U.S. declared the Islamic State caliphate destroyed, however remnants of the group stay a menace, together with about 10,000 fighters held in detention services in Syria and tens of 1000’s of their members of the family residing in refugee camps.
U.S. forces advise and help the SDF, together with in securing the detention services, and so they additionally conduct counterterror missions in opposition to the Islamic State group and different al-Qaida-affiliated militants, and perform strikes on Iran-backed militias which have attacked U.S. services.
Russia, an ally of the Syrian authorities, can also be energetic within the nation, however Washington and Moscow have used a deconfliction cellphone line in an effort to keep away from battle there.
IRAN IS ANOTHER REASON THE U.S. REMAINS IN SYRIA
Tehran’s political affect and militia power all through the area have created a safety concern for the U.S. Because the defeat of the Islamic State group, Iran-backed fighters have expanded their affect within the area.
The presence of American forces in Syria makes it harder for Iran to maneuver weapons into Lebanon, to be used by its proxies, together with the Lebanese Hezbollah, in opposition to Israel.
For instance, the al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria is positioned on a significant highway that may hyperlink Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the best way to southern Lebanon — and Israel’s doorstep. So troops on the U.S. garrison can disrupt what might be an uncontested land bridge for Iran to the japanese Mediterranean.
The oil-rich Deir el-Zour province in japanese Syria, the place a number of the newest U.S. strikes hit, sits alongside that strategic route. Syrian authorities forces and allied Iran-backed teams are deployed on the west financial institution of the Euphrates River in Deir el-Zour, whereas American troops help their allies, the SDF, largely alongside the east financial institution.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LATEST ATTACK?
A small suicide — generally known as a kamikazi — drone flew low over fencing into the bottom and struck a upkeep facility the place U.S. troops and contractors have been working. It didn’t hearth a weapon, however exploded when it hit.
One American contractor was killed, and 5 U.S. service members and one other contractor have been wounded. One service member returned to obligation and the opposite wounded taken out of Syria for medical remedy. Contractors typically are used to assist with upkeep and logistical help.
U.S. officers blame Iran, pointing to remnants of the drone, a number of intelligence menace streams and the truth that the assault was so much like earlier ones by the militants. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity to debate navy operations.
In retaliation, U.S. F-15 fighter jets from al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar struck places close to Deir el-Zour, concentrating on the Iran-backed militias believed liable for the assault. The variety of reported casualties assorted, and the U.S. wouldn’t affirm any numbers.
In an obvious response to these U.S. airstrikes, 10 rockets have been fired Friday at a U.S. base often called Inexperienced Village. Nobody was injured. Air Power Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stated the rockets have been fired by teams affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, however he stopped wanting blaming Tehran for the U.S. deaths and accidents.
AREN’T U.S. TROOPS PROTECTED?
The U.S. maintains safety in any respect of its bases however steadfastly declines to offer a lot element. Reporters touring in Syria, together with from The Related Press, have regularly seen a variety of safety measures, starting from fencing and different barricades to extra high-tech radars and different sensors.
Requested about data that one of many radars on the base was not working, Ryder stated there was not a complete hole in radar capabilities: “There was a whole sight image when it comes to radar.” However Iranian drones characterize a critical — and increasing — menace in Syria. Kurilla advised Congress that Tehran is constructing more and more subtle drones, and now has an arsenal that ranges from small, short-range methods “to long-range one-way assault platforms.” Iran has additionally supplied drones to Russia to be used in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
PREVIOUS SKIRMISHES
One of many deadliest flare-ups between the U.S. and Iran-backed teams occurred in December 2019, when U.S. navy strikes in Iraq and Syria killed 25 fighters and wounded others from the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah Iraqi militia. The U.S. stated the strike was in retaliation for the killing of an American contractor in a rocket assault on an Iraqi navy base that it blamed on the group.
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In August 2022, the U.S. carried out strikes concentrating on Iran-backed militias in Deir el-Zour province. The Pentagon stated the assaults have been meant to ship a message to Iran, which the U.S. blamed for various drone assaults, together with one which focused the al-Tanf garrison. That base was additionally hit in January, when three suicide drones struck, wounding two Syrian opposition fighters. The U.S. once more stated Iran-backed teams have been accountable.
Israel has additionally struck Iranian targets in japanese Syria, though it not often claims duty. In November 2022, airstrikes focused tanker vehicles that crossed from Iraq into japanese Syria. The convoy was reportedly carrying gas and weapons to militias in Deir el-Zour. The U.S. denied involvement, and an Israeli navy official later strongly instructed that Israel was behind the strike.
