Drone Attack Kills 6 Kurdish Fighters at US Base in Syria

A recent drone strike at a base in eastern Syria, which is used by U.S. forces, resulted in the death of six Kurdish allies on late Sunday. This incident marks the first major attack in Syria or Iraq since the U.S. executed counterstrikes over the weekend. These counterstrikes were in response to attacks by Iran-backed militias targeting U.S. forces in the region.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group supported by the U.S., reported that the attack occurred at the al-Omar base in Deir el-Zour. This base is notably used for training commando units of the SDF. Fortunately, there were no U.S. casualties reported.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, claimed responsibility for this assault. They released a video that shows the launching of the drone, though the location from where it was launched remains unspecified.

This group had previously conducted a drone attack in late January, which resulted in the deaths of three U.S. troops and injuries to many others at a desert base in Jordan. Following this, the U.S. military conducted several retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also targeted the Houthis in Yemen.

Initially, the SDF suspected that mercenaries backed by the Syrian regime were behind Sunday’s attack. However, after further investigation, they attributed it to Iran-backed militias.

These militias have been responsible for numerous drone attacks on U.S. military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria and have been vocal in their demands for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from these regions.

This drone strike coincides with escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with Hamas’ incursion in southern Israel on October 7.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that in addition to the six SDF fighters killed, the attack on Sunday also wounded at least 18 others, some of whom are in critical condition.

The U.S. military also carried out strikes two days prior to this incident, targeting militant sites linked to Iran in both Syria and Iraq. In response to the attack, the SDF affirmed its right to retaliate.

Additionally, the U.S. military targeted four anti-ship missiles on Sunday that were ready to be launched from Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen against vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command stated that these strikes were a self-defense measure against an imminent threat to U.S. Navy and merchant ships in the area.

This action followed a joint operation by the U.S. and Britain against the Houthis, aimed at reducing their ability to launch attacks in the Red Sea. In these operations, 36 Houthi targets were hit.