Middle East
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder speaking to journalists on October 24, 2023. Photo: Pentagon
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder on Tuesday said his country’s forces have been attacked with suicide drones and rockets in Iraq and Syria in the past week at least 13 times, blaming pro-Iran groups for the assaults.
"Between October 17th and 24th, US and coalition forces have been attacked at least ten separate times in Iraq and three separate times in Syria via a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets," Ryder told journalists during a press briefing, adding that this is an initial report and they have yet to confirm another attack in western Iraq which has been claimed by a pro-Iran armed group.
Attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria have soared over the past week over Washington’s support for Israel in its war against Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Iran-backed militias have launched repeated rocket and drone strikes on bases in both countries where US troops are present as an integral part of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State (ISIS).
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran and affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks on US troops in Iraq.
The group has linked the attacks to the US support for Israel.
The Pentagon spokesperson said they “always reserve” the right to defend themselves against these attacks.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged Iraq’s prime minister to pursue the attackers of US bases and troops in Iraq, according to the State Department.
"Between October 17th and 24th, US and coalition forces have been attacked at least ten separate times in Iraq and three separate times in Syria via a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets," Ryder told journalists during a press briefing, adding that this is an initial report and they have yet to confirm another attack in western Iraq which has been claimed by a pro-Iran armed group.
Attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria have soared over the past week over Washington’s support for Israel in its war against Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Iran-backed militias have launched repeated rocket and drone strikes on bases in both countries where US troops are present as an integral part of an international coalition to fight the Islamic State (ISIS).
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran and affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks on US troops in Iraq.
The group has linked the attacks to the US support for Israel.
The Pentagon spokesperson said they “always reserve” the right to defend themselves against these attacks.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged Iraq’s prime minister to pursue the attackers of US bases and troops in Iraq, according to the State Department.
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