As tensions rise in the Middle East, US troops face new risks, such as a Navy warship having to shoot down missiles, which may have been aimed at Israel, launched from Yemen on Thursday, and drone strikes on American locations in Iraq and Syria.
Overview
US Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stated that the crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney, which is currently patrolling in the northern Red Sea, shot down three land attack cruise missiles and six drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi troops in Yemen on Thursday.
US troops repeatedly attacked in Iraq and Syria, as Washington on alert by Iran-backed groups with regional tensions soaring during #IsraelHamasWar. US sent naval power to Middle East in past two weeks, including 2 aircraft carriers, other warships and about 2,000 Marines. pic.twitter.com/PPAAgF1Pus
— DD News (@DDNewslive) October 20, 2023
“This action was a demonstration of the integrated air and missile defence architecture that we built in the Middle East and that we are prepared to utilise whenever necessary to protect our partners and our interests,” Ryder said.
“We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched heading north along the Red Sea potentially towards targets in Israel,” the senior official said.
Furthermore, Ryder spoke about drone attacks on US locations in Syria and Iraq. On 18 October, two drones targeted the al-Tanf garrison in Syria. “US and coalition forces engaged one drone destroying it, while the other drone impacted the base resulting in minor injuries to coalition forces,” he added.
Simultaneously, early warning systems detected a possible threat approaching the al-Assad airfield. As a precaution, base personnel remained in place. “Though no attack occurred, sadly, a U.S. civilian contractor suffered a cardiac episode while sheltering and passed away shortly thereafter,” Ryder remarked.
Ryder explained, “While I’m not going to forecast any potential responses to these attacks, I will say that we will take all necessary actions to defend US and coalition forces against any threat.”
Iranian-backed Iraqi militants in #Syria conducted three attacks using one-way drones and rockets against US military positions in #Iraq and Syria, marking the second consecutive day of such attacks targeting US forces in the Middle East. (1/4) https://t.co/JdpPTyDJQC https://t.co/rTEhhe4G4e pic.twitter.com/14XFY2c3v5
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) October 20, 2023
US Troops Attacked in Iraq, Syria
US forces have been frequently targeted in Iraq and Syria recently, as reported by US officials, who are on alert for activity by Iran-backed organisations as regional tensions rise amid the Israel-Hamas War.
Earlier this week, US forces thwarted several drone attacks on Iraqi troops. Drones and rockets targeted the Ain al-Asad air base, a base for US and other international soldiers in western Iraq, on Thursday, and multiple explosions have been heard inside.
Later, a US source confirmed that a rocket strike on US and coalition personnel at a diplomatic support centre near Baghdad International Airport occurred early Friday morning.
According to preliminary findings, two rockets were launched, one intercepted by a counter-rocket system, and the other impacted an empty storage facility.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they fired a series of rockets into the facility and “they hit their targets directly and precisely.” A US official acknowledged the new strike but said it was too early to determine the damage.
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have been deployed as foot soldiers in regional wars such as Syria and Yemen and have recently vowed to target US locations in Iraq and elsewhere in response to American support for Israel.
“Our missiles, drones, and special forces are ready to direct qualitative strikes at the American enemy’s bases and disrupt its interests if it intervenes in this battle,” Ahmad Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, leader of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, said last week in a statement. In addition, he threatened to fire missiles on Israeli targets.