CNN –
US forces have been attacked at least four more times in Syria by Iranian-backed groups after the US military carried out airstrikes on Sunday on targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a US official told CNN.
All four attacks came after the U.S. attacked a training facility and safe house near the towns of Abu Kamal and Mayadin on Sunday. The Pentagon is currently not recording any injuries or damage from the last four attacks.
“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he ordered today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said of the US attacks on Sunday.
The four attacks were a mix of missile and drone strikes in four different locations, according to a U.S. official. On Sunday evening, a multiple missile attack was launched against troops at the Euphrates Mission Support Site in Syria, and two one-sided drone strikes were launched against troops at the Green Village Mission Support Site and al-Shaddadi in Syria. Both drones were shot down before reaching their target, the official said. No casualties or damage to infrastructure were reported.
On Monday morning, several disposable attack drones were launched against forces in the Rumalyn landing zone in Syria. One drone was shot down, the official said, and another drone crashed into the landing zone, causing minor damage to four tents. No casualties were reported.
Other attacks this weekend included multiple attack drones fired at forces in the Rumalyn landing zone on Saturday morning; One drone was shot down before reaching its target and another failed to detonate upon impact. On Friday morning, a disposable attack drone targeted forces at al-Tanf Garrison in Syria but was shot down before reaching its target. No casualties or damage to infrastructure were reported in either attack.
As of Monday morning, there have been at least 52 attacks against US and coalition forces since October 17 – 24 attacks in Iraq and 28 attacks in Syria. At least 56 soldiers were injured in the attacks by Iranian-backed groups – at least 25 suffered traumatic brain injuries, while other injuries were minor, Pentagon officials said.
Sunday’s attacks mark the third time the U.S. has attacked facilities or targets in the region, following ongoing attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria. Last Wednesday, two US F-15 fighter jets struck an arms depot belonging to the IRGC and affiliated groups. And on October 26, the US attacked two facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias.
On Sunday, a second defense official said the training facility was also believed to be acting as a logistics and weapons depot “based on the secondary explosions observed following the attacks.” The official said the safe house near Mayadin acts as a headquarters for IRGC-affiliated groups in the area.
“This operation was intended to disrupt and impair the freedom of action and capabilities of the IRGC and affiliated forces directly responsible for attacking U.S. forces,” the official added.
The official also said that members of the IRGC militias were present at the facilities when they were hit, although they said they “cannot provide an estimate of the number of casualties at this time.”
“The United States does not seek conflict and has no desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop,” the official said. “We specifically targeted IRGC-linked entities to make it clear to Iran that we will hold them responsible for these attacks against U.S. forces.”