Iranian proxy forces launched an attack on a United States military base in Northeast Syria, firing seven rockets at the installation. The attack was reportedly in response to retaliatory airstrikes carried out by US forces on sites affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in Syria.
Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or damage to the base, which is situated near the Al-Omar oil field.
This latest attack is part of a series of 78 previous assaults by Iran-backed militias in the region since January 2021. In a separate incident, a self-destructing drone believed to be of “Iranian origin” hit a coalition base, resulting in the death of a US contractor and injuries to six other Americans.
Ongoing investigations indicate that the primary air defense system at the base was not fully operational during the attack, according to two US officials. It remains uncertain whether the attackers exploited this vulnerability or merely happened to launch the drone at that moment.
The United States responded to the drone attack by carrying out retaliatory strikes against locations associated with Iranian proxy forces, allegedly resulting in the deaths of eight Iranians.
Joe Biden, the President of the United States, aimed to ease concerns over rising tensions between the US and militant groups by stating that the US has no intention of engaging in conflict with Iran. However, he also cautioned Tehran to control its proxies and guaranteed that the US would take strong measures to safeguard its citizens.
Biden emphasized that the US does not seek conflict with Iran, stating, “Let me be clear, the United States does not, I repeat, does not seek conflict with Iran.” He then warned that the US would be prepared to take decisive action if necessary to protect its people, as was done in the recent airstrikes in Syria.
The President revealed that the US had taken immediate action, and military forces had carried out a series of airstrikes in Syria on Thursday night. These strikes were aimed at those who were responsible for the attacks on US personnel.
He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the American who was lost and wished a prompt recovery for the injured. In addition, Biden acknowledged the exceptional professionalism displayed by our service members in carrying out the response.
The recent attack poses a threat to the progress made in de-escalating tensions throughout the broader Middle East. Despite years of turmoil, rival powers in the region such as Iran and Saudi Arabia have taken steps towards reconciliation in recent days.