The March 7th Israel-Hamas Attack on the United States and the Syria Relative Defense Forces During the September 17 Attack
The sites in Syria used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were bombed by the U.S. in March after an Iranian attack killed a US contractor and wounded seven other Americans. Several locations around Deir el-Zour were struck by American F-15 fighter jets.
The strikes were meant to protect and defend the U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. “They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.”
“The United States does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop,” Mr. Austin said.
Iran has not been accused of having a direct role in the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, but the administration does say that Tehran was not aware of it. But the U.S. has noted that Iran has long supported Hamas and has raised concerns that Iran and its proxies could turn the conflict into a wider war.
To that end, the U.S. has deployed two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean near Israel and dozens of additional warplanes to the Persian Gulf region to deter Iran and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq from engaging in a regional war. the Pentagon rushed more missiles and other equipment to protect U.S. troops and bases in the region
There have been at least 19 attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria since October 17, according to the Pentagon. The Air Force officer is an brigadier. Gen. Pat Ryder said 21 U.S. personnel were injured in two of those assaults that used drones to target al-Asad Airbase in Iraq and al-Tanf Garrison in Syria.
On Wednesday, Mr. Biden was asked if the US would respond to Iran’s ongoing attacks against U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria.
The strikes on Friday came just hours after the Pentagon announced that several U.S. military members in Iraq and Syria have been injured in attacks from the Islamic State group.
The Defense Department previously said that 21 service members had minor injuries, but went back to work after the attacks.
The militia carried out 12 rocket or one way attack drone strikes against U.S. troops in Iraq, and at least four attacks in Syria. The spokesman for the Pentagon said on Thursday that General Patrick S. Ryder was correct. There are thousands of troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, mostly helping local allies fight the Islamic State.
In March, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that a self-destructing drone of “Iranian origin” killed a U.S. contractor and injured another contractor and five U.S. service members in an attack on a maintenance facility on a coalition base in northeast Syria.
The Defense of the United States, Israel and Hamas: General Relatives to the Israel-Hamas Conflict and to Israel-Israeli Relations
“As we’ve seen in the past, there are situations where several days after an attack, a member may self-report ringing in the ears, headaches,” said General Ryder, who said there have been no other diagnoses of traumatic brain injury since then.
The United States always has the right to self-defense, whether the attacks are on American troops or not, said General Ryder during an interview with reporters. General Ryder said that if they decide to respond, they would do so at a time and place of their choosing.
The Pentagon has consistently said the strikes will be tied to the attacks on the troops and not related to the war between Israel and Hamas. Such retaliation and strikes against Iranian targets in Syria after similar attacks on U.S. bases are routine.
The latest spate of strikes by the Iranian-linked groups came in the wake of a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital, triggering protests in a number of Muslim nations. The Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in response to the devastating Hamas atrocities in southern Israel, but the US has denied that Tel Aviv was behind the al-Ahli hospital blast.
He said during the Pentagon briefing that they maintain the inherent right to defend themselves and will take all necessary measures to protect their interests.
All the personnel who were injured in the militant attacks came back to work. In addition, a contractor suffered a cardiac arrest and died while seeking shelter from a possible drone attack.
The U.S. Response to the Boukamal Precision Test of the Irregular Core of the Galactic Guard (RGC)
A senior defense official said the sites were chosen because the IRGC stores the types of munitions there that were used in the strikes against U.S. bases and troops. The two officials briefed reporters after the strikes on condition of anonymity to provide details on the mission that had not yet been made public.
According to a senior U.S. military official, the precision strikes were carried out near Boukamal by two F-16 fighter jets, and they struck weapons and ammunition storage areas that were connected to the IRGC. The U.S. does not have any information on casualties yet, but the official said that there were Iranian-aligned militia on the base and no civilians. The official wouldn’t say how many bombs were launched.
U.S. officials have routinely stressed that the American response is designed to be proportional, and is aimed at deterring strikes against U.S. personnel who are focused on the fight against the Islamic State group.
The THAAD is being sent from Texas, as well as the batteries from North Carolina and Oklahoma. An Avenger is being sent to Fort Liberty.
Officials have said as much as two battalions of Patriots are being deployed. A battalion can include at least three Patriot batteries, which each have six to eight launchers.
Around 900 troops have left or are in the process of leaving for the Middle East region, including the ones with air defense systems.