Pentagon: US forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted by drones or missiles from Iranian-backed groups at least 38 times, including six attacks in the past two days.
Defence officials reported that most of the attacks were disrupted by the US military or failed to reach their targets. However, 46 US servicemen were injured as a result of the attacks, which was more than double the number of wounded reported earlier, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder confirmed.
These could be things like shrapnel, headaches, perforated eardrums, tinnitus, rolled ankle.
Four attacks reached their target: a drone attack on Al-Harir Air Base in Irbil, two multiple drone attacks on Al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, and a multiple drone attack on Al-Tanf garrison in Syria.
Ryder reported that all of the wounded returned safely to active duty, however, two US service members who had been treated for head injuries and initially returned to active duty were subsequently sent to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for further examination.
They are in stable condition, so this is out of an abundance of caution.
Last Friday, US forces struck a weapons depot and ammunition facility in eastern Syria that, according to the Pentagon, was being used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups. US personnel have since been subjected to at least 16 attacks, most of which were inconclusive.
Sunday marked a record number of attacks in a single day. Several lawmakers, including Republican Senator Marco Rubio, last week expressed concern that the military’s initial response to the attacks in Iraq and Syria was not strong enough.
“If we do not have a credible … deterrence with Iranians, these attacks are going to escalate. They’re going to come faster, they’re going to spread beyond Syria and Iraq, and they will involve weaponry of increasing sophistication and legality. That is my biggest fear.”
Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has stated that the US “will respond” if the attacks do not stop.
The United States has deployed more than 1,200 soldiers to the region to protect its troops in Iraq and Syria and in case the conflict escalates. These units include Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) batteries, Patriot and Avenger batteries. The USS Eisenhower carrier strike group, the USS Ford carrier strike group and other warships are patrolling in nearby waters.
The attacks, which began on October 17, have left 32 Americans lightly wounded in Syria and 14 lightly wounded in Iraq. US officials continue to monitor possible traumatic brain injuries.
One US contractor suffered a heart attack and died during a false air strike alert at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.
