Several United States and coalition personnel were treated for minor injuries following a drone attack in Syria on Friday. The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East.
The injured personnel suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation, with none reported as seriously hurt. Some individuals are also being examined for traumatic brain injuries.
After the attack, several service members were transported from Rumalyn Landing Zone to another location for further assessment. The strike resulted in damage to at least one set of facilities.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time.
Recent Attacks and Tensions in the Region
This drone strike comes shortly after seven US personnel were injured in a rocket attack on Al Asad Airbase in Iraq. The US Defense Department attributed the attack to Iran-aligned militia groups, labeling it a 'dangerous escalation.'
The individuals injured in the previous attack included five US service members and two US contractors, all of whom were reported as stable following the incident.
These recent attacks are occurring within a context of heightened tensions in the Middle East. The US has been on alert for potential Iranian retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Hamas' political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.
US officials have consistently pointed to Iran-backed militia groups as responsible for attacks on troops in Iraq and Syria. Between October 17 and January 29, there were over 150 attacks on US personnel in the region. The frequency of these attacks decreased after three American troops were killed in a drone attack on a small US outpost in Jordan, prompting a significant US response targeting 85 locations across seven sites.
